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

would make sure it neverwent to my Family, no matter what his arrangement with me or
minewith him. My Family would do the same. That’s the way Familiesare — they take care of
their own, and they never let privateagreements between individuals override the good of the
Family as awhole. Never.” The Calimekkan Galweighs wouldn’t, anyway.Goft Galweighs might
be another matter, but she never intended todeal with those traitors again.

“So anything you swear to him or he swears to you isalready meaningless if the Galweighs or the
Sabirs won’teventually approve of it?”

Kait started to deny that.

Then she thought about what he’d asked her, and whatshe’d said.

She’d always considered her word a thing of value, and herhonor as solid as the rock on which
Galweigh House was built. Butshe realized at that moment that no matter how honest she was,
nomatter how hard she worked to keep her promises, her Family couldmake a liar of her with a
single command. And if that was true,what value had her word to anyone? She stared down at the
rope inher hands and said, “Yes.”

She shook her head. People struck bargains with the Galweighsall the time. She’d always thought
it was because of theGalweigh reputation for honor. Now she reconsidered. The Galweighsruled
half of Calimekka and much of the world — only a foolwould dare refuse Galweigh business,
and only a fool would renegeon a contract with a Galweigh. But did the men and women who
markedwax with the Galweighs consider the Family’s mark worthless?If so, no wonder the
streets stank of fear when she walked downthem. No wonder she smelled such hatred from
strangers. No wonderwomen pulled their children from the streets, and little shops hadoften just
closed their doors for the day, when she strode bythem.

There had to be a better way. There had to be a way to protecthonor and the Family at the same
time.

Hasmal said, “Then we’re going to have to learn to useit before we reach land.”

Kait, still thinking about her Family and the problem of honor,didn’t know what he was talking
about for an instant. Then shestared at the Mirror of Souls, and shivered. Learn to use it?“I can’t
read the glyphs inscribed on the buttons,”she told him. “Any of the Ancients’ artifacts can
bedeadly if misused. The Mirror of Souls . . .” Hervoice trailed off to silence, and in her mind the
bodies of deadlegions scrabbled from their graves and shambled across thedarkened face of the
world, seeking revenge against the fools whohad trapped their souls in foul-fleshed husks without
restoringthose husks to healthy life. She dreaded the idea of a mistake,even a small one.

“I’ve dealt with the Ancients’ work before. Iknow the dangers.”

“Have you learned to read the glyphs since I foundthis?”

“No. But if Ry Sabir won’t come around to our side, wehave no other choice.”

There were always choices. “If Amalee would speak to meagain . . .”

“No. Don’t welcome her back.” Hasmal’s eyesstared faraway at nothing, unfocused. “Something