"Katherine Kerr - Deverry 10 - The Black Raven" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kerr Katherine)

his pale skin had turned even whiter, setting off his dark hair and violet
eyes.
As they watched, Cadmar leaned forward to bark an order at the boys playing by
the hearth. Two of them jumped up and ran off to do their lord's bidding, but
not before they'd bowed to both prince and gwerbret.
'That kind of grovelling around,' Vantalaber said, 'I don't like it. None of
us do.'
'Notice how the boys made their bow to Dar first?' Melimaladar put in. 'And
how he smiled?'
'And look at what he's wearing,' Vantalaber went on. 'All the time now.'
Rhodry obligingly looked, though it took him a moment to see what Van meant.
Around his neck on a golden chain the prince wore a gold pendant. In the
firelight a jewel winked and gleamed.
'By the Dark Sun herself!' Rhodry whispered. 'It's Ranadar's Eye.'
'We all know he's royal,' Vantalaber said. 'He doesn't need to flaunt it.'
'Just so,' Rhodry said. 'Huh. I'll try to have a word with him. You're right.
The People will never stand for this, not out on the grass.'
Despite the cold in the tower room, Dallandra often stayed up late, reading
one or another of Jill's books by the silver light of the Wildfolk of Aethyr.
Usually her studies led straight to her sleep work, when she went to the
Gatelands to renew the magical wards that kept Rhodry's dreams safe from
Raena. That particular evening she had just finished restoring the flaming
stars when Niffa joined her there.
For some while they merely considered each other in the red and gold glow from
the wards. She was a little thing, to Dalla's elven way of thinking, not much
more than five feet tall and slender with long dark hair that she wore loose
over her shoulders.
'There be a need on me to thank you,' Niffa said finally. "Your news about our
Jahdo did do my mam's heart much good.'
'I'm glad to hear it,' Dallandra said. 'He worries about her and the rest of
you as well.'
'Well, if you'd be so good, do tell him that Mam fares well, though in truth,
she be sick again. There be naught he can do, so far away, and I'd not have
him fret.'
'I'll do that, then. Is there a good herbwoman in your town?'
'One of the best, or else I'd be sore troubled about my mam. Otherwise, there
be much trouble upon us and our town. Tell me if you would - Raena, is it that
she does cause grief to you and yours?'
'She has in the past, truly. What's she done to you?'
'Naught that I can prove.'
'Indeed? What do you think she's done?'
'Murdered my man, that's what. I did see her in vision, like, laughing and
laughing when he lay dead, but the councilman, and he be her man and not
likely to bring her to trial, is he now? But the councilman, he did say it was
evil spirits, and now the whole town does believe him.'
'I have no idea of what you're talking about.' Dallandra paused for a smile.
'Slowly now, lass. I don't know the councilman nor much about your town. I
didn't even know you'd been married.'
Niffa's dream image blushed.
'My apologies,' the lass said. 'I do forget that you be your own self,