"Holly Lisle - Bard's Tale 08 - Curse of the Black Heron" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lisle Holly)

and material contributor to my future. Whereas in Blackwarren the doings of
the High Court were so distant both in leagues and in their effects on our lives
that they didn't even make for interesting gossip.
I rolled my eyes. "This going to make any difference for you and His
Lordship?"
"Oh, sure. The-" Giraud made a face "-the Gloriana Majeste is bound to
want an increase in taxes to fill her empty war chests. And no doubt she'll
want Da to ride to her county seat in Kingston Bylake with my brothers to
declare undying allegiance. Shouldn't be much trouble for him otherwise,
though. If he hadn't been in high stink with King Salgestis, we wouldn't have
been in stuck here in Blackwarren in the first place, lording it over the peat
boggers and the blackflies."
"You don't think you'll have to ride to Kingston Bylake, too?"
"Nah. I'm third tit, Izza. With Storrin and Baylar ahead of me in
succession, I don't even get invited to the dances in Straje."
"And we both know how you love to dance."
Giraud snickered. "I won't complain about my place in life. I'm as happy as
I'm going to be, living in Blackwarren. And maybe with Varelle on the throne
Da will win a place of favor and we'll be able to move closer to the capital and
get a bit of culture from time to time."
I recall finding that possibility unlikely. "You think she'll grant your father
new lands? But he didn't support her."
Giraud saw it as less of a problem, but then, he was always much more the
optimist than I. Being lord's son instead of poor foster-daughter to a peat
crofter will have that effect on your outlook on life. Giraud said, "He didn't
support Salgestis, either. He wasn't crazy. From one day to the next you
couldn't tell who would win their fight, or if both of them would lose and the
damned Liedans would come sweeping down from the north by land and sea
and annex us; and Blackwarren's so far from everything Da didn't need to
make any passionate declarations of loyalty. Nobody even remembers we're
up here, most times. He just kept his head low and kept it on his shoulders
that way."
The herald had finished reading the new empress's decree, and sat rolling
her scroll, preparatory to moving on to the next town... or considering our
position relative to the rest of civilization, perhaps just heading home. I said,
"That's it, then. The news of the world beyond comes and goes, and here in
Blackwarren, nothing changes. Nothing at all."
Giraud rested his hand on my shoulder as we turned to head to my
craft-master's shop. "That isn't true for you, Izza."
I had to smile. Giraud understood my reasons for anticipating my release
from Birdie's care, and was friend enough to be excited with me. "You're
right," I agreed. "Finally, change comes."
"How many more days?"
I closed my eyes and pretended to count, but actually the number of days
I had left in my apprenticeship might as well have been carved straight
through my flesh into bone, I knew it so well. "Nineteen," I said.
Giraud laughed. "One for every year you've lived. How perfect."
"I still have two years as journeyman weaver after that, before I can
become a master and set up my own shop. It isn't as if I can leave
Blackwarren right away."