Cycle: Land of the Dragon. Selection: Choice or Destiny. Book One
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– You are amazing Catherine – he leaned forward. I didn’t notice when his glass was emptied, and the heir meanwhile put him on a low table with a little knocking and returned to his original position. – your speech does not seem to me provincial, but all the same words and phrases that you eat sometimes I have not heard before. – the sound of rain on the glass became clearer, I held my breath, and even seem slight intoxication wine melted. – But I digress, voice your desire.
– You know that I lived a pretty closed. I would like to see the real world. I’m asking you to let me go on a trip. I understand that a request may seem insolence, but maybe I can not only learn something new for yourself, but also be of some use? Start learn mood or identify issues on which you do not know, visit settlements of people.
– Catherine, and do not you accidentally forget why you're in a castle?
– What? – I'm honestly surprised.
– You see, Catherine, the people on this project are trying to win my heart and capture my attention. They come up with surprises, they show the most beautiful dresses, they celebrate any kind of attention, even if it’s a short walk in the park. Not only are you avoiding me, but the only wish you’re expressing is to get as far away as possible – the heir rose from his chair and walked to the window, I admire of his back and somehow try to deal with goosebumps fear that travel through my body – Moreover, I understand that you are waiting for that i will finance it – he turned to face me, leaning on the window sill.
I peered at him , hesitating to put my glass, which still had red fluid at the bottom of it is still splashing red liquid, slightly swinging it, hiding the trembling of my fingers
– But I'll give you a gift, Your Majesty, is not a sign of attention? And I'll go on a trip in the surroundings of your subjects, not earlier than three months (for such a serious journey must be prepared).
– For some reason, it seems to me that you most curious result of the experiment and the ability to obtain funding from the treasury of the empire, not my response to the presentation of a gift and a possible pleasure from it.
We stood in a duel views. Overall, the Heir is correct in his accusations. I’m not seriously considering it as a possible husband (though if you add a couple of glasses and leave the lighting like this. Like now.)
I need Artifacts more to survive really , but i can not to admit .
When silence lingered, the Heir said:
– Well, let's proceed as follows. An artifact money will be allocated. To make a travel decision, you have to prepare more detailed information: which lands you would like to visit , which establishments and we will return to the discussion in two weeks. The second condition, you have to prepare me a gift. But one that will target it to me. So you told something about the socks ?
– Yes, Your Majesty, but you and without them hot, and I knit bad. But well, the conditions are accepted. From me description of where and why, and a gift like socks. I will go? Outside the window was dark, we probably time for dinner.
– Yes you are right. But I need to work, and will eat in office. I said goodbye, but in the dining room did not go, asked to file into the room. And what to present? This thought occupied my mind all the time remaining before bedtime
Chapter 19
In the morning I took out a notebook, which Elegelika presented me to practice (my days so full of events and thoughts that i didn't start study the alphabet , but I firmly promised that allocated for a class a couple of hours tomorrow). I need a notebook today to simply distribute the options.
So I divided sheet of notebook to two columns for possible gifts and for commenting in the second:
1. Bake a cake // I do not know how to look like a furnace here
2. Knitting, sewing / i'm bad in it
3. Sing // I can play a little guitar, but whether there is such a tool here.
4. Portrait // possible, but it would be a caricature, and it can be offended.
5. Maybe there is a souvenir? Shirt and socks, brandy, cup, certificate …// no, he is not an ordinally man
6. I need to see what theatrical productions are going on, maybe buy tickets?
I feel like before February 23, and all seems silly and trivial, but because turning the leaf started to draw Dragon with flowers in their teeth before the tower with the princess. It at least distract from the sprawling thoughts.
After drawing a leaf from a notebook, i made an envelope from a blank sheet and drew a dragon with a kitten on it. And maybe the envelope would never have made it to the addressee, but at that point, I got a knock.
The young man (his name was Richard, I recently asked, accompanies me every day, and was silent all the time) went to my room. He nodded, but when he saw, the envelope in my hands stretched out his hands, asking to whom to send.
– Do not worry, it's for the heir, I'll find a way to send – I mumbled.
But Richard did not give up and took envelope – I will I'll send it through the Secretary of His Majesty, while you have breakfast. I will be glad to help you.
And I had no choice how to give him my letter, stupid to retreat. Nevertheless, no signature. Maybe he wouldn't guess? And, if he guess, would forgive me this little prank?
That evening, I received an answer to that question. On the table beside the bed, lay a living rose, and under it the envelope, inside picture: Tower Princess, to the tower of the charge of stairs, and the stairs down happy and fat dragon, in the teeth it holds a rescued sad kitten.
Chapter 20
But before messages with the kitten was still far off, the morning just begun. And the first thing I went to the library. I asked for some book about the musical instruments of the peoples of the empire, only necessarily with images of those very instruments. So, what tools we had two thousand years ago? Flute, harp … Could they have also come to the creation of the guitar.
I scroll through the entire book, but an identical instrument did not found.