"Katherine Kerr - Deverry 11 - The Fire Dragon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kerr Katherine)

‘It’s all that climbing around in the dun,’ Elyssa joined in. ‘Do you
truly think you should, my lady?’

‘You could quite wear yourself out,’ Degwa said.
 ‘You’re both right enough,’ Bellyra said. ‘But it gets tedious, sitting
around all day. I don’t know what I’m going to do when I finish my book.’

‘That troubles me, truly,’ Elyssa said. ‘But mayhap you’ll think up
another one. About the Holy City itself, say.’

‘It’s the oldest place in all Deverry, after all,’ Degwa put in There must
be splendid tales about it.’

‘And all the legends, too,’ Elyssa went on. ‘About King Bran and how
he saw the white sow and all of that. It would make a lovely beginning.’

‘Now there’s a good idea!’ Bellyra suddenly smiled. She could just see
how to do the opening pages. ‘My thanks.’

Elyssa and Degwa glanced at each other, then away, as if perhaps they
had planned this suggestion together. She should be grateful to them,
Bellyra supposed. Yet she felt like snarling because they had reminded her
of the birthing madness, prowling at the edge of her mind just as
Braemys’s army prowled at the borders of her husband’s lands. It will be
different this time, she told herself. She wished she could believe it.

The silence grew heavy around them. With a little shake of her head,
Degwa stood up, stepping towards the hearth. In the firelight a silver
brooch pinned to the left shoulder of her dress sparkled with a long glint of
light.
‘There’s not a lot of firewood left, your highness. Shall I send one of
the servants for more?’

‘Please do,’ Bellyra said. ‘Or wait! What’s that on your dress, Decci?’

‘A little gift.’ Degwa smiled, glancing away. ‘From an admirer.’

‘Not Councillor Oggyn?’ Bellyra clapped her hands together. ‘It’s quite
pretty.’

‘So it is,’ Elyssa put in. ‘Is that real glass set in it?’

‘It is.’ Degwa’s face had turned a pleasant shade of pink.
 Elyssa and Bellyra exchanged a pointed glance that made Degwa
giggle.
‘If only he were noble-born!’ Degwa said. ‘As it is, I can hardly count
him a true suitor.’

‘Oh now here!’ Bellyra said briskly. ‘After all the fine service he’s paid