Christine Pope [Tales of the Dragon Rose (epub)

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.But here were…hundreds? It was hard for me to say for sure, as all four walls of the chamber had bookshelves from floor to ceiling, and all of those shelves were full.Theran had so many books that they were also piled up on a table in the center of the room, and even stacked on the floor beneath that table.“Do you read?” he asked.“I was taught, that and to write and to figure.But we didn’t have much opportunity for reading.The only books in the house were the primer my mother used to teach us, and a cookery book she received as a wedding present, and a history of Farendon.” I didn’t bother to add that the history must have been written for the sole purpose of sending its unfortunate readers to sleep, as it was dry as dust.“Ah, none of that sounds very interesting.” He went to one of the bookcases and selected a thick volume bound in dark green leather, with gold lettering stamped on the spine.I couldn’t make out the title from where I stood, however.“I had thought perhaps if you wanted to give your fingers a rest from painting, you might try reading something…if you could read, of course.Not all of—that is, not all girls your age can.”No, they couldn’t.Lilianth could barely manage to write her own name; her parents had not set the same store in learning that my own did.I knew the Dragon probably meant that not all of his Brides had been able to read, which did not surprise me.After all, those girls had come from both wealthy families and poor.At least that much could be said for the selection process, horrible as it might be for those involved.There was never any hint that the more powerful families in Lirinsholme influenced the process in any way so their own daughters might be spared.In fact, a Bride had been selected the same year my mother married my father, and the unfortunate girl in that instance had been the daughter of one of the elders.I pushed the thought of that long-dead young woman aside and said, “That sounds like a lovely idea.It has been wonderful to paint so much, but I must confess even that can become tedious after a while.One cannot curl up next to a fire with a painting—not unless you’re willing to risk an explosion.Linseed oil is quite combustible.”He laughed and said, “Yes, far less risk of that with a book.I thought you might like to try this one.” And he held it outstretched in one hand, so that I had to approach and take it from him.My fingers brushed against his as I retrieved the book.Whether he had meant for me to do so or not, I couldn’t say.Another one of those little shivers traced its way down my spine, and I swallowed.I should not allow myself to react to him so.After all, with every revelation he seemed to show himself as less human, as something that had not been a man for many, many years.And yet…And yet I wished it could be otherwise.Hold me at arm’s length he might, but I found myself wanting more of his company, wishing to hear his voice, yearning for ways I might think of to bring us together more, rather than these formal dinners and nothing else.Foolish, I knew.We could be nothing more than temporary companions, before…before what? My time here would not last forever.I did not know what lay in store for me, but it could not be pleasant, or the Dragon would not have need of a new Bride every five to seven years.It wasn’t as if he kept multiple wives around the castle, the way I’d heard was the custom in far-off Keshiaar.For the greater part of two months I’d been able to keep the fear at bay.It rose now, clawing at me, seeming to tighten my throat, and I forced myself to swallow.“It is not to your liking?” Theran asked.I blinked, and looked down at the book I held.“Tales of the Age of Magic,” I read aloud, and glanced up at him.“I thought such things were not to be written or spoken of.”“In some places, perhaps.We are moving into a more enlightened time.Men are beginning to understand the value of knowledge, of history.It is better to learn from our mistakes so that we do not repeat them.”Something in his voice, some sharp edge to the normally smooth accents, made me wonder if he spoke of his own mistakes rather than those of the long-ago mages whose hubris had brought about the near-collapse of our civilization.I could not ask, however.Somehow I knew he would not reply.“I hadn’t thought of it that way before,” I said.“Many haven’t.That does not make it untrue.”I clutched the book, flipped it open.The print was clear and very black; it was of the highest quality, and I found myself wondering where he’d gotten it.Then again, supplies came to us from the capital when necessary, and I supposed it would be no great task for Theran to send his agents to several booksellers to procure a batch of new titles at the same time they were gathering together cloth and tools and casks of wine and whatever else might be needed at Black’s Keep.“I will be very careful with it,” I told him, shutting the book once again.I did not think it would be polite to read it any more closely until I had returned to my chambers.“I trust you will.” It seemed as if he paused, staring down at me.Once again I felt that urge to reach out to him, to lay my hand on his arm and move closer, but something seemed to prevent me.And then the moment was gone.He turned away, saying, “It grows late.No doubt you wish to retire for the evening.”My mouth opened to make some protest, but I quickly shut it.Anything I might have said would have sounded unutterably foolish [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Linki