"Katherine Kerr - Deverry 07 - A Time Of War" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kerr Katherine)

swung down to hide in the muttering swarm of townsfolk. Too late - Verrarc was speaking to the
militiamen, summoning a pair, plunging into the crowd and heading straight for him. Jahdo tried to run, but
caught in the forest of grown-ups he found no path. Verrarc laid a heavy hand on his shoulder and swung
him round. The councilman was smiling.

‘Meer did remember you, lad. Bring me the boy who smells of ferrets, he said. That one owns a brave
heart.’

Jahdo stared into his eyes and felt again that he was spinning in a mind-eddy, down and down, drowning
in the lake of Verrarc’s eyes. From what seemed like far away he heard a woman screaming in rage. The
screams grew louder, rushed close, turned into his mother’s voice. The spell broke. His mother’s face
hovered above him.
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‘You mayn’t, you mayn’t! How can you even think of it?’

‘It be the treaty bond, Dera!’ Verrarc shoved himself back, raising one hand ready to ward blows. ‘It’s
needful that someone go. Do you want a whole pack of Horsekm sieging us for breaking the treaty?’

‘He be but ten summers’ Send some other lad Send one of the militia ‘

‘Meer didn’t ask for some other lad.’

With an animal snarl Dcrd turned away and began shoving her way toward the steps In his mother’s
strong grip Jahdo found himself dragged after as the guards and Verrarc followed, with Verrarc arguing
with Dera the entire way Jahdo could |ust sense the crowd thinning, swaying, as most of the citizens
headed for the gate He was willing to bet that the family of every other boy there was running for safety
In the flaring torchlight by the colonnade Meer stood waiting, his arms crossed over his chest

‘Listen, you!’ Dera growled ‘I do care not if you be one of the gods themselves You’re not taking my
son away.’

‘Dera, please, hold your tongue!’ Verrarc looked terrified ‘You’ll insult our guest ‘

With Niffa, Demet, and Kiel right behind him, Lael pushed through the crowd. Dera ignored him and the
councilman both and waggled one finger under Meer’s flat nose

‘Just who do you think you are, anyway,’ she went on ‘Marching in here and -’

‘Mv good woman, please!’ Meer held one huge hand up flat for silence ‘I come to you as a suppliant, as
one in need. Please, I beg you, allow your son to come with me. I promise you I’ll treat him not as a
slave, but every bit as well and tenderly as I would treat my very own first-born nephew.’

Dera hesitated Verrarc muttered astonishments.

‘A mother’s words are law, Councilman,’ Meer snapped. ‘My good woman, as I travelled this day
through your city, everywhere I smelt fear, except on your son. He’s like one of your weasels, very small,