"Alan Dean Foster - Icerigger 3 - Deluge Drivers" - читать интересную книгу автора (Foster Alan Dean)

and insisted they take their vows in Arsudun's ancient castle. Ancient, unheated
castle, Ethan reflected as he tried to keep his teeth from chattering.

The two principles in this frigid romantic drama were Sir Hunnar Redbeard and Elfa
Kurdagh-Vlata. Elfa was the daughter and heir of the Landgrave of Sofold, Hunnar
the first Tran Ethan and Skua had dealt with after surviving their crash landing on
this world eons ago. Ethan was delighted to share in their happiness^ He would
have given anything not to have agreed to share in the actual ceremony.

Not that he and Skua were alone in their nakedness. Guards and spectators alike
had disrobed for the ceremony.

Only the bride and groom were dressed. But the feline-ursine Tran were clad in
thick fur. They didn't notice the chill in the castle. Ethan and Skua had no such
natural protection.

"Look, Ethan, " Skua whispered, "when I accepted the invitation to this little soiree
on our behalf I had no idea stripping down was part of the tradition. The way that
guard captain explained it, by appearing without raiment in the presence of the
beloveds we indicate that we're giving of our friendship and affection without any
constraints. One holds nothing back. It's a sign of respect for the lucky couple. One
hides nothing in their presence. "

"That's for damn sure, " Ethan growled.

Skua looked thoughtful. "Got its practical aspects besides. Hunnar there's going to
be Landgrave someday, ruler of Wannome. When everybody's in a happy mood
and celebrating would be a good time for a potential assassin to strike, but it's
tough to sneak in a weapon when you've nothing to hide it behind. "

"Damn shame, too. If I had one, I know who I'd use it on. "

September spread his huge hands. "Now what could I have done, feller-me-lad?
Turned down the invitation to our friends' wedding? A royal invitation at that, and
what with us getting ready to leave this ball of ice once and for all. No reason for
us to hang around. With Sofold and Arsudun in the north and Poyolavomaar and
Moulokin in the south the Tran are pretty well on their way to breaking out of their
feudal city-state cycle and establishing a planetary government. The rest of the
independent states will have to join up because there's no way they can stand
against that kind of strength. "



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One of the other spectators, an Arsudunian noble by the look of him, admonished
them to be silent. It was disrespectful to converse during the sacred moments of
the cere-mony whether one be hero or commoner—or alien. Were they not
conscious of the singular honor which had been bestowed upon them? Despite the