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.We share a common heritagecommon ancestors so to speak. Yet he could be a conqueror with half our lands as his booty, QueenGustin said,  far more quickly than if we travel the route you suggest.Allister Seagleam shrugged. True.However, conquered lands might behard to hold.Once secure with part of Bright Bay, Stonehold might decideshe wants the whole.We have the ocean ports their own land lacks.Queen Gustin laughed bitterly. Stonehold might want the whole, just asHawk Haven has decided she wants the whole.Yes, I can see how KingTedric might take warning from his own example.Tell me, Allister, whyshouldn t I just prolong negotiations until King Tedric dies? His new heirmight prove more tractable. Or he or she might not, Allister countered, fascinated despite himselfwith this weird byplay.He could feel Gustin hating him for the position inwhich he had put her, yet she persisted in asking for his advice. And KingTedric, while possessed of a weak heart, is not in any immediate danger.Some have suggested that the stimulation of this journey has actuallystrengthened him. Delightful&  Gustin IV sank her polished white teeth into her littlefinger, as if pain was the only distraction that would keep her fromscreaming. So my only choice is to make you my heir. I never said that, Your Majesty, Allister replied firmly,  only that Ithought that solution provided the best way to secure an alliance with HawkHaven that will prove for our mutual benefit.Queen Gustin fell silent for a moment, then looked across at him, her faceeerily expressionless, a portrait cast in clean, white porcelain. You may leave, Duke Allister, she said with cool formality. Thank youfor your services.Send my commander of marines up to me as you areleaving.Allister did as ordered, wondering what thoughts had lain behind thatlovely mask and dreading that he must soon learn.Derian sat at firekeeper s bedside occupying the restless patient by drillingher in the alphabet alternating these lessons with basic heraldry when shegrew frustrated.Annoying as the wolf-woman s impatience could be, Derian took it as agood sign that she had energy enough to get angry.For two days followingher struggle with Prince Newell, Firekeeper had lain still and silent, hardlyresponding to any stimulus, no matter who her caller or what news she wastold.A few things had sparked her interest: praise from Earl Kestrel, who hadknelt by her bedside holding her hand, tears actually running down hischeeks into his neat black and white beard; learning that Rook had beentaken and had confessed in return for a promise of imprisonment ratherthan execution the extent of Prince Newell s plotting; the story of Derian sown adventures, told with great enthusiasm by Race Forester.But for most of those two long days she had simply lain still, neitherrestfully sleeping nor truly awake, suffering with every breath.Derian orElise or Doc had kept vigil by her cot, wiping the bloody spume off her lips,moistening her throat with dribble of water, and talking to her when itseemed she might actually hear.On the third day, Firekeeper had begun to recover, reacting with smallsigns of pleasure when Doc had ordered her cot moved out into the warmautumn sunshine.Today the fourth day since the end of the decisive battleof Allister s War she was sitting propped against carefully positionedpillows and fretting because Doc would not let her get up and becauseBlind Seer and Elation had nominated themselves enforcers of thephysician s orders.Doubtless Doc s healing talent had been instrumental in assisting Fire-keeper s recovery, but he had refused to take full credit.Indeed, he hadconfided to Derian that without her own indomitable desire to live,Firekeeper like so many of those wounded on the battlefield would havedied.Derian had taken his turn digging graves for the dead of both sides.Thecontinuing warmth of early autumn would not permit the bodies to be carriedhome to their families, but still the dead s spirits must be properly honored.Sitting by Firekeeper as she had slept, Derian had lettered temporarygravestones wooden plaques that would be set in place until thestonecutters could finish the permanent headstones.As he worked, Derian was inexorably reminded of those anonymousgraves west of the gap.Now he knew two more of the names that should bethere: Sarena Gardener and Donal Hunter.Silently, he vowed that he d learnthe other names and return someday to set a permanent gravestone in thatburned glade. Scarlet beside forest green blazed with&  Derian was promptingFirekeeper when footsteps crunching up the path announced callers.Elation squawked and Firekeeper said: Sapphire Shield and Shad Oyster. A wicked twinkle lit her dark eyes. Elation say they were holding hands when they were farther, but have let gonow.Derian wagged a finger at the peregrine falcon. You re a worse gossipthan any market-wife.The falcon, who continued to follow Derian about his errands until Deriancouldn t decide whether he felt honored or pestered, screeched at him andFirekeeper chuckled, stopping abruptly as if the intake of air still hurt herdamaged lung. We can t precisely knock, Sapphire called, halting a short distanceaway,  but Elise said that Firekeeper was entertaining callers. As long as she stays in bed, Derian said, rising and bowing. Would youlike me to withdraw? Not for my sake, said Shad in a pleasant light baritone. I ve wanted tomeet you.That was a brave deed you did, Derian Carter.He offered his hand as if he were not a duke s son, but just another man.Derian accepted the handclasp. The real credit should go to the scouts, Derian said firmly [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]