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

truth, thescales of justice, the nine-petaled flower of wisdom. The captain,too, had dressed to
show his status: the green and silver silks ofthe Sabir Family but cut in the traditional Rophetian
fashion, aheavy silver chain around his neck stamped with the insignia of thegod Tonn, and silver
beads braided into his beard andshoulder-length hair. Yanth stood behind both of them, his
silkshirt and leather breeches both black as an executioner’s. Hekept his hand on his sword and
glared at her.

Kait knew how she looked to them — a waif-thin woman in theworn and patched rags of the
lowliest of sailors, wearing a deadman’s too-large boots. She rested her hand on the pommel
ofher own sword, with its Galweigh crest and inlaid ruby and onyxcabochons, and pulled her
shoulders back and lifted her chin high.She was no impostor. She walked forward, leaving Ian,
Hasmal, andthe kneeling Ry behind her. “I declare myself Kait-ayarennedaughter of Grace
Draclas by Strahan Galweigh. By virtue of mytraining in diplomacy, where I have reached the
position of yanar in the Galweigh Family, I will state our case for mypeople. They are agreed,
and my word is binding, sworn to the godsof Calimekka and Ibera.”

The captain raised one eyebrow in quickly suppressed surprisethat she knew the formulas of
negotiation, then nodded. “Ideclare myself Madloo Sleroal. By virtue of my captaincy of the
Wind Treasure, which I have achieved by Tonn’s choice andgrace, and in the honorable service
of the Sabir Family, I statethe case for my people. My word is binding, and sworn before
Tonnand Tonn alone.”

That was typically Rophetian. They wouldn’t swear on thegods of Iberism, only on the single
Rophetian god of the sea. Kaitwould accept that, though — a Rophetian captain with a
wholeocean lying between him and home would never forswear himself infront of Tonn.

The cold-eyed parnissa glanced from the captain to Kait, undidthe cord that belted his robe, and
held out the black silk rope. Hesaid, “I stand between the disputing parties. I serve only thegods,
without loyalty to one party or the other, and the godsoversee through my eyes all covenants,
pacts, and bonds made thisday. All words spoken before me are spoken before the gods, andcarry
the force of soul-oath.” Kait held out her right wrist,the captain held out his right wrist, and the
parnissa bound themtogether with the cord, carefully tying the negotiators’ knot.“Bound together,
you swear before me to deal honestly witheach other for the good of all. Should either of you
break thebond, your life will be forfeit.” He stepped back. “Menact and gods attend.”

“Men act and gods attend,” the captain said.

“Men act and gods attend.” Kait inhaled slowly and letthe breath out even slower, trying to calm
the shuddery feeling inher belly. This, her first negotiation, was for her life and thelives of her
friends, and that alone would have made it terrifying.But it was also to negotiate safe passage for
the Mirror of Souls,and as such, what she did or failed to do would affect the futureof the world.
She wondered how many other untried junior diplomatshad been faced with such high stakes and
decided that she wasalone.

The captain said, “Since you have” — he glancedbehind her at Ry, kneeling in the ashes with a
knife at his throat— “called this negotiation, why don’t you tell mewhat you want.”

“My needs are simple. First, the services of your physick.Second, guaranteed safe passage and
freedom aboard your ship formyself, my three colleagues, and our possessions and cargo, to
ourchosen destination.”