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

our prince, who would scorn you if you should marry him?’

Degwa blushed again. She was no longer a lass, but certainly not an old
woman, though she’d been widowed for many years now. With her dark
curly hair and fine dark eyes, she was attractive, as well, despite her weak
mouth and weaker chin.

‘I’ll take pity on you, Decci,’ Elyssa said smiling, ‘and talk of
somewhat else. Speaking of jewellery reminds me, your highness. I met
Otho the smith down in the great hall this morning, after you’d left. He
asked for news of you and sends his humble greetings.’

‘How kind of him. I hope you told him I was well.’

‘I did.’

‘Good. I’ve always had an easy time of it with the babies. Until
afterwards.’

‘Oh, don’t!’ Elyssa leaned over and laid her hand on Bellyra’s arm.
‘Don’t think about it. Just don’t.’

‘You’re right. I’ll try not to.’

Bellyra wasn’t able to say why this mention of Otho gave her the idea,
but it occurred to her that afternoon to give Maddyn a token of some sort,
a little trinket such as queens often bestowed upon favoured courtiers, to
take to the wars and bring him luck. That evening, she had Otho
summoned and met him outside the door to the women’s hall, while her
serving women stood with her for propriety’s sake.

‘I want to give my bard a pin to match that silver ring,’ Bellyra told the
smith. ‘One with a rose design.’
 ‘Easy enough to do, your highness,’ Otho said. ‘I’ve still got a bit of
silver left over from the - er well, let’s just say I found it, like, after your
husband took Dun Deverry.’

‘I don’t want to know any details.’

‘Just as well, your highness. I’ll get right to work on that.’

‘My thanks, good smith.’

All smiles, Otho bowed, then stumped down the corridor to the
stairway. Degwa waited till he was well out of earshot.

‘Your bard, your highness?’ Degwa raised an eyebrow.

‘Well, my husband’s, truly, but then, my husband was the one who set
him guarding me.’