"Sean Russell - The Initiate Brother 2 - Gatherer of Clouds" - читать интересную книгу автора (Russell Sean)

your comfortable position. May Botahara forgive me.

Lady Nishima sat before a low table looking at the design for a robe which her servants would embroider.
Only moments before, as was often the case, she had a melody in her mind, a folk tune that a talented court
composer had borrowed to create a composition for the Imperial Sonsa troupe. But her visitor had disturbed
her harmony and the music faded away as




r
though the musicians in her mind traveled off into the distance.

“It is of no consequence to me, cousin,” Lady Nish-ima said, trying to keep her voice even. “Jaku Katta
could arrive at my door and I would not interrupt my painting.”

The mere mention of Jaku’s name brought back memories she would rather have left undisturbed. She
feared she colored with embarrassment, perhaps even shame, at the thought of what had happened
between her and Jaku when they last met. / went to his rooms, she whispered to herself.

Lady Kitsura Omawara nodded in response. “I did not mean to suggest that you would be… pleased by the
news, cousin, I am merely the messenger.” She smiled the smile that disarmed the coldest hearts.

“I did not mean to be abrupt, Kitsu-sum. Please excuse me. I am thankful for your consideration in this
matter.” She tried a smile in return. Kitsura had not intended to cause her discomfort, after all; Kitsura was
entirely unaware of what had happened between Jaku and herself. Deciding it would be best to change the
subject, Nishima observed, “You seem to be very well informed, Lady Kitsura. Does Lord Shonto have this
information? Or does he rely upon you?”

“I’m quite certain your esteemed father has all the information that I possess, ten times over.” She looked
down at her hands folded in her lap and began to turn a delicate gold ring until the design had gone full
circle. When Kitsura did not look Nishima in the eye, it was a sign that she had been engaging in certain
activities that she believed her cousin disapproved of. “I simply wish to keep us both informed. I have
befriended certain members of your father’s staff and often act as a confidante to them. After all, whom
could they talk to who would be more concerned for their lord’s welfare, except perhaps the Lady
Nishima?”

“I am not entirely convinced that their lord would view these breaches of security quite so benignly.”
Nishima said this with feigned disapproval while she fought the feelings of confusion that set her heart
whirling. Despite

all efforts, she was afraid that these feelings must show on her face. She tried to cover this with words.
“However, it is important to know as much as we can.”

“I agree entirely, cousin. So much is hidden and yet everything that is important to us is in danger of being
lost.” She moved to the next ring, turning it a little more urgently. “Do you think it’s possible that Lord
Shonto could be wrong? Could the Emperor’s general really be in disfavor at court?”

Nishima took a last look at the design and began to clean her brush. This would not be a brief interruption.
“I do not know Lord Shonto’s source of information at court, Kitsu-sum, so I cannot judge. But my father