[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] "He will send for Kellin, he says, when the time is right." For a long moment there was silence. Then the Queen of Homana muttered an oath more appro- priate to a soldier. "And when will it be right? Page 35 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html A TAPESTRY OF LIONS 79 When his son is a grown man, seated upon the Lion Throne Aidan himself should hold?" The Mujhar answered merely, with great weari- ness, "I do not know." Tension filled the silence. Then Kellin heard a long, breathy sigh cut off awkwardly. "Aileen, no " "Why not?" The voice was thick, but fierce. "He is my son, Brennan I'm permitted, I'm thinking, to cry if I wish to cry." "Aileen " "I miss him," she said. "Gods, but I miss him! So many years " "Shansu, meijhana " "There is no peace!" she cried. "I bore him in my body. You're not knowing what it is." "I am bonded in my own way " "With a cat1." she said. " 'Tisn't the same, Bren- nan. And even if it were, you have Sleeta here. 1 have nothing. Nothing but memories of the child I bore, and the boy I raised. .. ." Her voice thick- ened again. " 'Tisn't fair to any of us. Not to you, to me; and certainly not to Kellin." Her voice paused. "Is there no way to make him come? To compel him?" "No," Brennan said. "He is more than our son, more than a jehan. He is also a shar tahl. I will not compel a man blessed by gods to serve a mor- tal desire. Not for me, nor for you " "For his son?" "No. I will not interfere." Taut silence, as Kellin spun tightly away. Ur- chin hesitated only a moment, then hastened to catch up. "Kellin " "You heard." It took effort not to shout. "You heard what he said. About my father " It filled his throat, swelling tightly, until he wanted to choke, or scream, or cry. "He doesn't want me." Jennifer Roberson ae "That's not what the Mujhar said. He said your father would send when the time was right." Kellin strode on stiffly. "The time will never be right!" "But you don't know th " "I do." Venomously. "He renounced the throne, and renounced me. He renounced everything" "But he's a priest. Don't priests do those things?" "Not shar tahls. Not most of them. They have sons, and they love them." Kellin's tone thinned, then wavered. He clamped down on self-possession with every bit of strength he had. "Someday I will see him, whether he wants me or no, and I will tell him to his face that he is not a man." "Kellin " "I will." Kellin stopped and stared fiercely at Urchin. "And you will come with me." He dreamed of gods, and fathers, and islands; of demanding, impatient gods; of Lions who ate humans. He awoke with a cry as the door swung open, and moved to catch up the knife he kept on a bench beside his bed, with which he might slay lions. "Kellin?" It was Rogan, bringing with him a cupped candle. "Are you awake?" Kellin always woke easily, prepared for lions. Page 36 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html "Aye." He scooched up in bed. "What is it?" His heart seized. Not the Lion " There was tension in Rogan's tone as he came into the chamber, swinging shut the door behind him. He did not chide his charge for speaking of the Lion. "Kellin ..." He came forward to the bed, bringing the light with him. It scribed deep lines in a haggard face. "There is something we must discuss." "In the middle of the night?" "I can think of no better time." A slight dryness A TAPESTRY OF LIONS 81 altered the tension. Rogan put the candle cup on the bench beside the knife, then sat down on the edge of the huge tester bed. "My lord, I know you are troubled. I have known for some time. Urchin came to me earlier, but do not blame him; he cares for you, and wants you content." "Urchin?" Kellin was confused. "He told me what you both overheard today, when you eavesdropped on the Mujhar." "Oh." Only the faintest flicker of remorse pinched, then was consumed by remembered bitterness. "Did he tell you " Rogan overrode. "Aye. And after much thought, I have decided to do what no one else will do." The tutor's eyes were blackened by shadows, caved in unreadable darkness. "I offer you the op- portunity to go to your father." "To " Kellin sat bolt upright. "You?" Rogan nodded. His mouth was tight. "I make no attempt to explain or excuse him, my lord .. . I merely offer to escort you to the Crystal Isle, where you may ask him yourself why he has done as he has." "My father," Kellin whispered. "Jehan " He stared hard into darkness. "When?" "In the morning." "How?" "We will say we are going to Clankeep. You wish to take Urchin there, do you not?" "Aye, but " "I shall tell the Mujhar you wish to introduce Urchin to Clankeep and the Cheysuli. He will not refuse you that. Only we shall go to Hondarth instead." "But the Mujharan Guard. They'll know." "I have prevailed upon the Mujhar to allow us to go without guards. You are Cheysuli, after all [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl blacksoulman.xlx.pl