Read Online The Mirror of Her Dreams by Stephen Donaldson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Stephen Donaldson
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themselves as Geraden did, in jerkins, pants, and boots, perhaps with a long dagger sheathed at their belts, but the lords wore elaborately woven surcoats over flowing shirts and tight hose, with sabres in ornamented scabbards on their hips. And the intermediate degrees of station could be defined at once by the presence or absence of a sword or a decolletage, by the length of a gown or the embroidery on a surcoat.
In spite of their elegance, however, even the finest lords and ladies didn't look like they had ever been to a ball. Almost without exception, they comported themselves like people who lived under a shadow.
Several of the individuals Terisa and Geraden encountered greeted him, either by name or by title.
All of them stared at Terisa as openly as they dared.
After a while, self-consciousness made her realize that they had probably never seen anyone like her before. The idea was startling-and unsettling.
Shortly, Geraden led her up a series of stairs that doubled back and forth as if they occupied the inside of a tower. They led to a high, carved door with a guard stationed on either side. These men were better kempt than Argus and Ribuld, though they appeared no less experienced and dangerous; but they acknowledged Geraden with the same familiarity.
This is the lady Terisa of Morgan,' Geraden said. 'Will you announce us? I think the King will want to meet her.'
The guards made half-hearted efforts to conceal the way they ogled her. One of them shrugged: it was his duty to ward the King, but he clearly couldn't think of any reason to believe Geraden was dangerous. The other knocked on the door, let himself into the room beyond, and closed the door behind him.
A moment later, he returned. 'You can go in. But be careful. The King and Adept Havelock are playing hop-board. If the Adept decides you've disturbed his concentration, he might do something unpleasant.'
Geraden gave the man a sour smile. 'I understand.'
His hand lightly touching Terisa's arm, he moved her towards the half-open door.
The room they entered surprised her. It was the first richly appointed chamber she had seen in this place; and, although it was about the size of her living room and dining room combined, it was warm. A thick rug, woven in an abstract pattern of lush blues and reds, covered most of the floor. Blond wood panelling had been set over the stone walls, and each panel was elegantly decorated, some with carving, others with fine black inlay-work. Candles burned in brass holders set into the walls; small, five-branched candelabra stood on ornamental tables in the corners of the room and on both ends of the mantelpiece above the hearth. Hot coals glowed under the flames in the fireplace.
Two old men sat opposite each other at a small table in the centre of the room. One of them wore a purple velvet robe that covered him like a tent: he appeared lost in it, as if it had been made for him when he was young and powerful, and no longer fitted him now that his frame had withered. That impression was reinforced by his stark white hair and beard, by the faint blue tint his veins gave his skin, by the arthritic swelling of the knuckles of his hands, and by the watery azure hue of his eyes. A thin circlet of gold held his hair back from his face.
'King Joyse,' Geraden whispered.
The other man had lost most of his hair, and what was left of it stuck up from his pate in unruly tufts. His hawk-nose gave his face a fierceness which was belied by the constant trembling of his fleshy lips. His eyes seemed to be looking in slightly different directions. He wore a plain, dingy surcoat, which had once been white, with-as far as Terisa could tell-nothing under it. But over his shoulders was draped a yellow chasuble.
'Adept Havelock,' breathed Geraden. 'Some of the Masters call him 'the King's Dastard'.'
Both men were concentrating intently on a playing board set between them. It was
In spite of their elegance, however, even the finest lords and ladies didn't look like they had ever been to a ball. Almost without exception, they comported themselves like people who lived under a shadow.
Several of the individuals Terisa and Geraden encountered greeted him, either by name or by title.
All of them stared at Terisa as openly as they dared.
After a while, self-consciousness made her realize that they had probably never seen anyone like her before. The idea was startling-and unsettling.
Shortly, Geraden led her up a series of stairs that doubled back and forth as if they occupied the inside of a tower. They led to a high, carved door with a guard stationed on either side. These men were better kempt than Argus and Ribuld, though they appeared no less experienced and dangerous; but they acknowledged Geraden with the same familiarity.
This is the lady Terisa of Morgan,' Geraden said. 'Will you announce us? I think the King will want to meet her.'
The guards made half-hearted efforts to conceal the way they ogled her. One of them shrugged: it was his duty to ward the King, but he clearly couldn't think of any reason to believe Geraden was dangerous. The other knocked on the door, let himself into the room beyond, and closed the door behind him.
A moment later, he returned. 'You can go in. But be careful. The King and Adept Havelock are playing hop-board. If the Adept decides you've disturbed his concentration, he might do something unpleasant.'
Geraden gave the man a sour smile. 'I understand.'
His hand lightly touching Terisa's arm, he moved her towards the half-open door.
The room they entered surprised her. It was the first richly appointed chamber she had seen in this place; and, although it was about the size of her living room and dining room combined, it was warm. A thick rug, woven in an abstract pattern of lush blues and reds, covered most of the floor. Blond wood panelling had been set over the stone walls, and each panel was elegantly decorated, some with carving, others with fine black inlay-work. Candles burned in brass holders set into the walls; small, five-branched candelabra stood on ornamental tables in the corners of the room and on both ends of the mantelpiece above the hearth. Hot coals glowed under the flames in the fireplace.
Two old men sat opposite each other at a small table in the centre of the room. One of them wore a purple velvet robe that covered him like a tent: he appeared lost in it, as if it had been made for him when he was young and powerful, and no longer fitted him now that his frame had withered. That impression was reinforced by his stark white hair and beard, by the faint blue tint his veins gave his skin, by the arthritic swelling of the knuckles of his hands, and by the watery azure hue of his eyes. A thin circlet of gold held his hair back from his face.
'King Joyse,' Geraden whispered.
The other man had lost most of his hair, and what was left of it stuck up from his pate in unruly tufts. His hawk-nose gave his face a fierceness which was belied by the constant trembling of his fleshy lips. His eyes seemed to be looking in slightly different directions. He wore a plain, dingy surcoat, which had once been white, with-as far as Terisa could tell-nothing under it. But over his shoulders was draped a yellow chasuble.
'Adept Havelock,' breathed Geraden. 'Some of the Masters call him 'the King's Dastard'.'
Both men were concentrating intently on a playing board set between them. It was
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