Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
15. Zaemon’s Summons
”
“Bringherheretothefire,”Iordered,andthenonsecondthoughtsrememberingthatthewoman,whoevershemightbe,hadnewslikelyenoughformyprivateear(orotherwiseshewouldnothavecometosouncoutharendezvous),Isaidtothesentry:“Stay,”andgotupfromthegroundbesidethefire,andwentwithhimtotheouterline.
“Whereisshe?”Iasked.
“Mycomradesareholdingher.Shemightbeawenchbelongingtotheserebels,withdesignstoputaknifeintomylord’sheart,andthenwesentrieswouldsuffer.TheEmpress,”headdedsimply,“seemstosetgoodstoreuponmylordatpresent,andweknowtheclevernessofhertormentors.”
“Yourthoughtfulnessisfrank,”Isaid,andthenheshowedmethewoman.Shewasmuffledupinhoodandcloak,butonewholovedNaisasIlovedcouldnotmistaketheformofYlga,hertwinsister,becauseofmereswathings.SoItoldthesentriestoreleaseherwithoutaskingherforspeech,andthenledheroutfromthebivouacbeyondearshotoftheirlines.
“Itissomethingofthemostpressingthathasbroughtyououthere,Ylga?”
“Youknowme,then?Theremustbesomethingwarmerthantheordinarybetweenustwo,Deucalion,ifyoucouldguesswhowalkedbeneathallthesemufflings.”
Iletthatpass.“Butwhat’syourerrand,girl?”
“Aye,”shesaidbitterly,“there’smyreward.Allyourconcern’sforthemessage,noneforthecarrier.Well,goodmylord,youarehusbandtothedaintyPhorenicenolonger.”
“Thisisnews.”
“Andtrueenough,too.
