"Holly Lisle - Secret Texts 2 - Vengeance Of Dragons" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lisle Holly)

He turned back to his lieutenants and said, “I haven’tdiscussed it because there hasn’t been any
need.”
All five of his lieutenants, who were also his best friends, hadgathered in the small room. They’d
locked and barred the cabindoor and now sat crowded on the two bottom bunks.

Yanth, dressed for high drama in black silk breeches and a blacksilk shirt, with his long blond
hair braided with black cord, said,“I’m afraid there is a need. Each time one of us hasmentioned
what we’ll do when we get back home, you fallsilent. Or you look away, or change the subject, or
make some mockof the idea of returning to Calimekka. And not once have you toldus how you
expect to show up with a bride who’s a Galweigh.Surely that seems to us to require some
planning, or at least somethought.”

Trev, Jaim, Valard, and Karyl all nodded.

Yanth continued, “You’re hiding a problem from us, andthe problem you’re hiding concerns us.
We’re determinedto have the truth out of you, no matter what we have to do to getit.” He flushed
as he finished speaking, and the verticalscars on his cheeks stood out like two stripes of white
paint.

This was the moment Ry had dreaded, the moment when his friendswould no longer be turned
aside from asking their questions, themoment when he would have to face the truth. He pushed
his worriesabout Kait to the back of his mind — they would still be therelater. He had immediate
problems.

“Doesn’t matter that you’re first-line Family andwe aren’t,” Jaim said. “Doesn’t matter
thatTrev’s not Family at all. We’re going to know whatyou’re hiding from us before we leave
here, or we won’tleave here.”

Yanth would speak out of anger. It was his way. And he couldcool down as quickly as he heated
up. Had it been only Yanth in theroom with Ry, he felt sure he could have avoided the
confrontationhis friends sought.

But Jaim arrived at no decision quickly. He weighed andconsidered and argued with himself until
everyone was certain hewould never say either yea or nay . . . and then withoutwarning he would
come to his conclusions. When he did, nothingcould sway him. If Jaim had decided he must
know the truth, hewould starve to death waiting to find it out. And keep Ry starvingwith him.
When Jaim spoke, Ry saw all his options fly out thedoor.

They were his friends, had been for many years — but whenhe looked into their eyes, he saw no
warmth, no willingness tolaugh and be turned from their questions. He smelled on them
thebeginnings of anger and fear, and he knew he would finally have toface what he had done to
them. He simply wasn’t sure how to goabout it.

“My mother . . .” he began, and stopped.

They looked at him, expectant.

He swallowed, tasting shame.
“The day we sailed, I went to tell her I was leaving. Allof you were already on the ship, waiting
for me. But she refused togive me her leave. After all the deaths . . .” Heclosed his eyes,