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

said. ‘But don’t worry, we’ll come back to look at it.’

They all hurried down the staircase and outside to find the sunlight
leaving them. From the south, white clouds were gliding in, billowing up
into the sky with the promise of a storm. Servants trotted back and forth,
fetching firewood for the great hall while they kept an eye out for the rain.
Bellyra picked her way slowly over the uneven cobblestones with Vertyc
at her elbow to steady her. She was so intent on not falling that they were
halfway across before she realized that she was hearing the sound of a
man screaming in rage. She stopped walking and looked up, glancing
around.

Across the ward by the main gate, two men had faced off Their white
shirts, embroidered with a grey dagger down the sleeves, marked them as
silver daggers, members of the prince s personal guard. They were both of
them blond and burly, but one was a good head taller than the other -
Branoic, she realized, and facing him Owaen, captain of the troop, pacing
back and forth and shouting so angrily that his words made no sense

‘Maddo, what’s that all about?’ Bellyra said.

‘Oh ye gods!’ Maddyn said. ‘I don’t know, my lady, but I’d best attend
to it.’

‘By all means. Let’s go over. If I’m there Owaen will have to stop
screaming like that.’

‘Truly, and my thanks.’

Indeed the royal presence did bring Owaen to his senses. He fell silent
and bowed to the princess, but he trembled all over, and his face had gone
dead-white. Branoic was smiling, Bellyra suddenly realized, a wicked
tight curve of his mouth, as if he were enjoying each and every moment of
Owaen’s rage.

‘Your highness.’ Branoic bowed low. ‘Your husband has given me a
splendid boon, and I’ll thank you for it as well. I know you must have
spoken with him about bestowing land upon me.’

‘I did, and you re most welcome. She turned to Owaen with as pleasant
a smile as she could muster. ‘But what’s so wrong, captain?’

‘Forgive me, your highness, but is your husband going to make him a
lord as well.’

‘Of course.’
 ‘But the blazon — forgive me — you wouldn t understand, your
highness.

‘Oh ye gods!’ Maddyn broke in. ‘He didn’t give Branno the eagles