"Chelsea Quinn Yarbro - Olivia 2 - Crusader's Torch" - читать интересную книгу автора (Yarbro Chelsea Quinn)

chair rather than Olivia. "How soon do you insist I go? I'll be prepared in two more
days."
"As soon as weather and shipping permits. There are three Genoese merchants
who are arranging transport; you could travel with them. The Hieronomite monk at
the sailors' chapel will handle it if you ask him. My Confessor has spoken to him on
our behalf already." She said this quickly, anticipating his reaction.
"You wish me to go by ship?" It was difficult to tell whether he was annoyed or
upset at the suggestion.
"It is faster, and more direct. If you travel overland, it will be some time before
you reach Roma. Going by ship, you should arrive at Genova in no more than a
month." She spoke in her most sensible tone, but her eyes were pleading with him.
"Assuming we encounter no pirates and the winds are fair, that no Byzantine ship
seizes us for invented taxes and no Christian ship demands that we be put ashore on
some remote isle so that they can commandeer the use of the ship for the
transportation of pilgrims or knights," Niklos added as he started to pace the confines
of the room.
"Yes," said Olivia with asperity. "Assuming that. Overland there would be robbers
and Islamites and slavers to contend with, and more time for them to strike, more
places for them to take you, more ways for you to disappear. On the sea, you will be
safer. Please, Niklos." She reached out to stop him and shook her head in
exasperation as he pulled free of her hand. "You know how much I hate to travel by
water," she went on, her patience wearing thin. "But if I had to leave today, I would
arrange to go by ship."
"Then come with me when I leave. We'll make provision for you, arrange for you
to be an invalid, so that you might keep to your quarters all day." He stopped pacing
to address her directly. "Is this why you've been avoiding me, delaying this
discussion—because you want me to travel by ship? I tolerate it better than you do,
Olivia."
"You could scarcely do worse," she interjected with a little humor.
He was not distracted. "If it must be by water, it will be. Once I am in Roma, give
me two months, and everything can be arranged for you, including your passage."
"Yes, everything here can be ready. But you haven't been in Roma in a very long
time. What makes you certain that you can settle matters for me so quickly?" That
last question lingered in the air like the last echo of a gong.
"I will manage it. Roma can't have changed that much," Niklos said.
 "All right," Olivia told him. "You probably will not be able to secure passage for a
week at least; I do not want you setting out at the dead of winter. If, in that time, you
have managed to make arrangements for Roma and can gain permission for me to sell
this house, as well as ship my goods, there should be no difficulties to hamper either
of us." She indicated a large, leather-bound and iron-clasped book on the low table
beside the Persian chair. "I want to take my library, if I can. It's always difficult,
shipping books. No matter what they are, someone inevitably wants to burn them."
"I'll address the Court of Bourgesses." Niklos stood still a short time, then shook
his head. "All right; I'll make the arrangements you ask. I'll leave for Genova with the
merchants."
"Thank you," Olivia said reluctantly.
"You don't want me to go, do you?" Niklos asked her, long familiarity making her
expressions transparent to him.
"Yes, I do. I know it is the sensible thing to do. I know that if we leave without
preparation, it might be unpleasant in Roma, and that is something I do not want.