"Andre Norton & Lackey, Mercedes - Elvenbane 2 - Elvenblood" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

That made young Ardeyn a double heir, and doubly desirable in a marriage
alliance. Little matter that Lord Edres was quite vigorous and unlikely to
make Ardeyn a double-Lord any time in the next several centuries; Ardeyn
now had all of Lord Dyran's considerable holdings in his own right. That
made him the equal of his grandfather in status and standing. Lord Tylar's
support of Ardeyn's claim had been noted, and now would be rewarded--
though it was vanishingly unlikely that the reward would be a wedding to
Sheyrena. Lord Ardeyn was too highplaced for that, and Lord Tylar still an
upstart, though a valued upstart.
"Lower your arm now, my lady, please."

And no doubt, every unpledged elven maiden of appropriate rank has gotten
an invitation to come and show her paces for the benefit of Lord Ardeyn--or
rather, his grandfather. There was no doubt in Sheyrena's mind who was
going to be making the choice of a bride for Ardeyn. Only those who were
fortunate enough to have no parents or guardians ever made the choice of a
spouse for themselves. If the young Lord was lucky, his grandfather might
consult him--but the probability was that he was so ruled by Lord Edres that
he would tamely accept a wedding to a mule if that was what his grandfather
dictated.

Just as I will tamely accept a wedding to a mule if that is what my father
dictates, no matter how I feel about it, for my feelings are of no
consequence, she reflected with resignation, as the maids laced the bodice of
the undergown so tightly as to make it a second silken skin. The effect was
not to make her somewhat meager charms seem more generous, but rather
the opposite.

Although the invitation had said nothing about other maidens being
presented at this fete, it didn't have to. It was the word of every bower across
the land that Lord Ardeyn was looking for a bride and a profitable alliance,
not necessarily in that order. There would be dozens of unwedded and
unpledged elven women there tonight, from children still playing with dolls
to widows with power and property of their own. There was only one Lord
Ardeyn, however, which meant that it was inevitable that many other
unwedded elven lords or their parents or representatives would be appearing
at this fete as well, looking for prospective brides. It wasn't often that there
was an occasion grand enough that all the houses could put aside their
various feuds and pretend civility for one short night. Any number of
alliances might come out of this fete; old conflicts might be resolved--

"--the train, my lady, please to lift your foot."

And entirely new ones created. The maids indicated that she should turn a
full circle; the silken folds of the skirt swirled around her and settled again
with a sigh. They held up the overgown, and once again she held still while
they eased it over her head, for all the world like a giant doll they were all
dressing. The heavier silk of the overgown poured down over her body and
added its weight to the invisible burden of misery on her shoulders.