"Patricia C. Wrede - Lyra Universe 3 - The Harp Of Imach Thys" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wrede Patricia C)

never offer to pay for a room in hard coin, and it was too late now to change their story.
The woman did not notice. "If you and your brother are willing to work, I think I can arrange
something."
Emereck did not correct her mistake, though he grinned inwardly. He and Flindaran had frequently
been taken for brothers during their two years in Ciaron, for they were both tall, brown-haired,
and trimly built. Though they were not even distantly related, their resemblance had been of use
to them before. Emereck glanced at Flindaran and said, "We're willing to do whatever's
reasonable."
The woman laughed suddenly. Emereck blinked. There was music in that laugh, and a startled
amusement, and the shadow of a joy as pure as sunlight, and... and his imagination was running
wild again. Emereck shook his head as the woman said, "And we may differ somewhat on the
definition of reasonable?, Well, I will try not to be too stem. My stableboy has been ill three
days, and the stable needs cleaning. Or there is wood to split, or you may help in the kitchen if
you prefer. Is that to your liking, or shall I keep naming chores until you meet one that suits
you?"
"No need!" Emereck protested, laughing. He glanced at Flindaran and made a quick, questioning
gesture toward the horses. Flindaran nodded slightly, and Emereck looked back at the innkeeper.
"By your leave, we'll begin with the stables."
"And see your own horses tended as well, I suppose. No, I do not mind; it does you credit that you
think of your beasts before yourselves."
"If you'd rather choose the work yourself—"
"As long as the stable ends cleaner than it began, your motives are none of my concern; Fm simply
glad it will be done at last. When you're finished, come to the kitchen and Til show you your
room. And if any
THE HARP OF IMACH THYSSEL 5
question you in the meantime, say I sent you. I'm called Ryl."
Emereck bowed and gave her their names in return. Ryl smiled and directed them to an enclosed
courtyard at the back of the inn. The stable was set on the far side, opposite the only gate into
the courtyard. A large, sweaty man was forking hay into a small wagon just outside the stable


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door. He looked at them suspiciously, but when they mentioned Ryl's name he grunted and went back
to his work. Flindaran looked at Emereck and raised his eyebrows. Emereck shrugged, and they went
on into the stable.
Inside, they found five empty stalls and two occupied ones. The empty stalls were clearly in need
of cleaning, but the occupied stalls had recently been swept out. Judging by the condition of the
gear hanging beside her stall, the sturdy brown mare was a recent arrival. The roan gelding in the
other showed signs of longer residence.
A variety of shovels and rakes were hanging on the wall beside the door; they each selected one
and began on the stalls nearest the door, where they planned to put their own horses. Flindaran
was in an excellent mood, since it appeared he would not have to sing for his supper after all.
"This is going to be even more fun than I expected," he said, pulling a clump of moldy straw out
of one of the stalls with a long-handled rake.
"You call this fun?" Emereck looked skeptically at his friend.
"Not this, half-wit! The trip, the inn, the whole evening."
Emereck heard a familiar note in Flindaran's voice, and shook his head in amusement. "And Ryl?"
"What? No! I—Oh, blast you, Emereck, you know me too well. Yes, and Ryl."