"Stephen Lawhead - Dragon King 02 - The Warlords of Nin" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lawhead Stephen)

distance between himself and his former teacher in one bound and
embraced him, kissing both cheeks.
“Who is the lucky bride?”
“It is Karyll, the cloth-maker.”
“The widow of Lendoe, who was killed in the accident at the forge some
years ago.”
“Yes, the same. A fine woman. She has been lonely for so long....”
Quentin laughed. “You need not explain to us; you have our permission
already. I am sure you will both be very happy together.”
“Yes, we shall. I am very happy now—sharing this news with my
friends. You know I have come to regard you both as my own sons.”
“Certainly, you have been both teacher and father to us more times than
we can remember.”
“So it is fitting that you are the first to know.”
“Will the honored woman be here tonight? I would wish to congratulate
her as well.”
“She will be here—if that is not her voice I hear even now.”
 The sound of light voices lifted in laughter came to the courtyard from
the street beyond. Yeseph dashed to the gate once more and welcomed his
bride and her two companions. Blushing and smiling, he led her toward
Quentin and Toli, who stood grinning.
“My friends, this is my betrothed, Karyll.”
The short, round-faced woman smiled warmly back at them. Her hair
was bound demurely at her neck in an ornamented netting, and among the
brown Quentin could see streaks of silver. She was dressed in a plain
white, loose-fitting gown with a bright blue shawl over her shoulders. She
was a handsome woman.
As Yeseph drew her close to him with his arm, he gave his future wife a
look of such endearment that Quentin felt a pang of longing for his own
beloved.
“Hello, Karyll, and congratulations. Yeseph has been telling us that you
two are to be married. I am very pleased.”
“Thank you, Quentin. We are very happy.” She turned and gazed into
Yeseph’s eyes and added, “Yeseph is full of your praises. It pleases me
that he has chosen you to hear of our plans first.”
“When will the wedding take place?” asked Toli.
“Yeseph and I thought that a midsummer wedding would be nice.”
“Yes,” agreed the groom. “There is really nothing to prevent us being
married at once. We are both of age.” He laughed and Karyll laughed with
him. But the laughter faded when Yeseph saw that neither Quentin nor
Toli shared their mirth. Both had become strangely silent; the light of
happiness was extinguished in their eyes.
“What is the matter? Does our plan not meet with your approval?”
“Yes, and more than you know. But I fear that we will not be among the
happy wedding guests.”
“Why not, may I ask?”
“We were going to tell you this evening. We have received a summons
from the King, and we must leave for Askelon.”
“Yes, I know... in a few weeks, but...”
“No—at once. A rider came today. We must leave at once.”