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

‘I see. To tell you the truth, I’m just as glad. I’d be terrified if I could
see - well, you know - someone’s death.’

‘Just so.’ Nevyn hesitated, thinking. It was likely that if grave harm
befell either the prince or her betrothed, she would know, no matter how
far away she was. He decided that worrying her the more would serve no
purpose and changed the subject. ‘I need to be on my way. The prince is
holding a council - at noon, he said, so I suppose I’d better get myself
there. He stood up, stretching his arms above his head. ‘You may finish
the lesson I set you from the dweomer book.

‘Those awful lists?’

‘I realize that the memory work is tedious.’ Nevyn arranged a mock-
fierce expression. ‘But those calls and invocations will come in handy
some fine day. Learn that first page for today.’

‘I do understand. I’ve got part of them off by heart already.
 ‘Splendid. Keep at it. But if you finish before I get back, there’s no
need for you to stay shut up inside. The more sun you get, the better.’

Nevyn hurried down the stone stairs, which still exuded a wintry chill,
and walked out to the sunlight and the main ward of Dun Deverry and the
looming towers of the dun itself. Not even the bright spring day could turn
the smoke-blackened stone cheerful. The fortress spread out over the top
of a hill, bound by six high stone walls, lying at intervals down the hill
like chains upon the earth. Tall towers, squat brochs, wooden sheds, long
barracks and stables - they sprawled in a plan turned random by hundreds
of years of decay, the fires of war, and the disasters of siege, followed by
what new building and fortifying the kings had been able to afford. In
among the buildings lay cobbled wards and plain dirt yards, cut up by
stone walls, some isolated, all confusing.

In the centre of this tangle, however, lay a proper ward, and in its centre
rose the tidy cluster of brochs and towers that housed the prince, his
family, his personal guards, and the many officials and servants that made
up his court. Against the black stone bright banners displayed a red
wyvern on a cream ground, lifting and trembling in the breeze. As Nevyn
was crossing this ward, he saw Princess Bellyra just leaving the main
broch tower. With two pages and one of her husband s bards in
attendance, she was heading for the door of one of the side buildings.
Dressed in blue linen, she walked slowly, her hands resting on her belly,
heavy with her third child. Her honey-coloured hair was bound up in a
scarf stiff with embroidery, as. befitted a married woman of her rank.

‘Nevyn! she called out. ‘Are you off to the high council?’

‘I am, your highness. Why are you going inside in this lovely weather?

‘It’s that bit of old map you found for me. I simply have to go see the