"John Moore - Heroics for Beginners" - читать интересную книгу автора (Moore John)

"Thank you, Emma. I love mint jelly," said the Prince. He stood back up. "Especially with my favorite
meal, roast lamb."

"You like lamb? I raise sheep myself."

"Really?" said Kevin.

And here Winslow noticed that the man was wearing a shearling jacket and the pin of a minor guild
official. It was the sort of thing that the Prince would pick up on immediately.

"As a matter of fact, Your Highness, our annual guild picnic is coming up. Now if you like roast lamb..."
He suddenly looked uncomfortable. "Of course, no doubt you're used to eating fancy foods, but if you'd
care to drop by and say a few words..."

"I'd be delighted. Here." He brought Winslow forward. "Winslow, pencil me in for a guild picnic next
Thursday at two o'clock." He turned back to the sheepman. "Give the details to my man here, and we'll
see if it can be arranged. Good-bye, Emma."

The girl looked up briefly and gave a tiny wave.

"The picnic is next Thursday," the man told Winslow. "At two..." He paused thoughtfully. Winslow made
a mental note to set out wool clothing for the Prince and rehearse him on his speech "Sheep Raising, the
Foundation of a Strong Economy."

When he caught up to Kevin again the Prince was talking with a woman who spun flax. Her husband
raised flax, her daughters spun it, and her uncles wove it. They were planning a large family reunion.
Kevin promised to stop by. Winslow made a mental note to set out linen clothing and rehearse the Prince
on his speech, "Flax Cultivation, the Foundation of a Strong Economy."

Kevin continued to work the crowd, collecting more gifts of jams and preserves, hand-knit scarves,
sweaters, gloves, mittens, baskets of fruit, carved wooden cups and bowls, and even a wooden flute. All
of which were passed on to Winslow to carry. By the time they reached the edge of the gardens, the
valet had his arms full and gifts stacked up to his chin. Kevin decided they had done enough. The other
suitors were finished speaking. They had left the balcony, while the crowd below was thinning out and
going home. The two men slipped through some bushes to follow an empty path back to the castle.
Kevin stopped to take some of the heavier parcels from Winslow. When he turned back an old woman
was standing in the middle of the path.

"Beware, Timberline," she said. "Beware of theman in black."

Kevin sighed."Oh great, a soothsayer." He shifted his parcels. "That's all we need right now."

They could barely see her in the darkness. It was the rasp in her voice that gave the impression of great
age, a whispery sound like coarse sandpaper on soft wood. She wore a dark cloak with a hood, and her
features were hidden in shadow, but when she held up a crooked finger, the moonlight gleamed off bone
white skin. "Beware, Prince Kevin of Rassendas," she repeated. "Beware..."

"Of the man in black.I got it the first time," said the Prince. "Sorry, but I've never been impressed with
seers and soothsayers. Save your sooth for another sucker. I don't believe anyone can predict the
future."