[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
instructed.
It would be a pleasure, my lady/ replied their expansive guide.
'Say that Ladies Deborah and Constance de Payens have arrived for their audience with Commander de
Bracineaux.'
At this, Alethea, who had been daydreaming about the rich pearl-studded gowns the empress reputedly
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
wore, sat up sharply. Her Greek was not as good as her sister's, but she understood this last without any
difficulty. 'What are you saying?' she demanded. Those are not our names.'
'Quiet, Thea,' snapped Cait. 'Do as you are told.'
Philippianous' smiling features arranged themselves into a knowing smirk. He opened his mouth, but Cait
cut him off before he could comment. 'Announce us/ she commanded.
Cait turned on her sister. 'Now listen, Thea,' she warned. 'Keep your mouth shut, and do what I tell you,
or I will leave you here by yourself. Understand?'
'I still cannot see why we have to -'
'1 mean it!' Cait raised a threatening finger.
Alethea nodded sourly.
'Good. I will explain everything later.'
Philippianous had made their names known to the porter, a hulking drone who waved the chair and its
occupants through the gate - eyeing the nubile younger woman lustfully as the two passed. Inside the
palace grounds, they proceeded at once to the courtyard and the palace entrance where they were halted
by guards, and where, once again, the doors were opened without further question when the
commander's name was given.
'Be so kind as to wait here,' Cait told the bearers. 'God willing, we may not be long. If you are ready to
depart the moment we return I will double your fee,'
'Most gracious lady,' replied Philippianous grandly, 'we will await your appearance with confident
expectation.' He led them to the massive copper-gilded iron doors, where they were escorted into the
palace without delay.
Once inside, they were met by an ageing courtier who demanded to know their business. 'We are invited
to an audience with Commander de Bracineaux,' Caitriona replied crisply.
The courtier cocked his head to one side and gave the two young women a long, dubious glance. 'Even
so?'
'The invitation was issued by the Master himself.' Cait leaned forward and placed her hand on the man's
arm, putting her mouth close to his ear. 'He said to tell anyone who asked that we are -she paused
precisely long enough to leave no doubt in the courtier's mind that it was a lie, and then added, 'his
nieces.'
The elderly courtier pulled away as if burned by her touch. He drew himself up to speak, and Cait
thought he might refuse them then and there. Instead, he merely turned on his heel and led them across
the entrance hall to a long flight of wooden stairs. Without a word, he indicated that they were to ascend.
Cait thanked the servant and, taking the dumbstruck Alethea's hand, proceeded up the stairs without
looking back.
They emerged on the next floor and stepped into a large, wood-panelled vestibule connecting three long
corridors lined with doors. Two yawning servants leaning against a gilded column regarded the
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
newcomers lazily, but made no move to help them. Cait presented herself and asked in which of the
apartments the Templar de Bracineaux might be found. The chamberlain raised a hand, indicated the
central corridor, and said, 'Sixth door.'
Thea close behind, Cait proceeded down the corridor, drawing a deep breath to calm herself. It was
going better than she had hoped, but an instant's carelessness would ruin everything. They passed several
doors, and heard coarse singing emanating from behind one of them; from behind another came a loud
crash followed by raucous laughter and stamping feet.
So, the local gossip is true, she thought. The Franks sleep when they should work, eat when they should
sleep, and roister when they should pray. They rarely wash, talk too loud, blow their noses on their
clothing, and rut like pigs.
As they approached the sixth door, Alethea squeezed Cait's hand. 'Someone is coming!' she whispered.
Caitriona looked quickly down to the far end of the corridor where a figure had just appeared in the
passageway. As the figure approached she saw the tray of cups in her hand. 'It is just a serving girl/
She waited until the girl drew near and paused at the sixth door, whereupon Cait approached her [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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instructed.
It would be a pleasure, my lady/ replied their expansive guide.
'Say that Ladies Deborah and Constance de Payens have arrived for their audience with Commander de
Bracineaux.'
At this, Alethea, who had been daydreaming about the rich pearl-studded gowns the empress reputedly
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
wore, sat up sharply. Her Greek was not as good as her sister's, but she understood this last without any
difficulty. 'What are you saying?' she demanded. Those are not our names.'
'Quiet, Thea,' snapped Cait. 'Do as you are told.'
Philippianous' smiling features arranged themselves into a knowing smirk. He opened his mouth, but Cait
cut him off before he could comment. 'Announce us/ she commanded.
Cait turned on her sister. 'Now listen, Thea,' she warned. 'Keep your mouth shut, and do what I tell you,
or I will leave you here by yourself. Understand?'
'I still cannot see why we have to -'
'1 mean it!' Cait raised a threatening finger.
Alethea nodded sourly.
'Good. I will explain everything later.'
Philippianous had made their names known to the porter, a hulking drone who waved the chair and its
occupants through the gate - eyeing the nubile younger woman lustfully as the two passed. Inside the
palace grounds, they proceeded at once to the courtyard and the palace entrance where they were halted
by guards, and where, once again, the doors were opened without further question when the
commander's name was given.
'Be so kind as to wait here,' Cait told the bearers. 'God willing, we may not be long. If you are ready to
depart the moment we return I will double your fee,'
'Most gracious lady,' replied Philippianous grandly, 'we will await your appearance with confident
expectation.' He led them to the massive copper-gilded iron doors, where they were escorted into the
palace without delay.
Once inside, they were met by an ageing courtier who demanded to know their business. 'We are invited
to an audience with Commander de Bracineaux,' Caitriona replied crisply.
The courtier cocked his head to one side and gave the two young women a long, dubious glance. 'Even
so?'
'The invitation was issued by the Master himself.' Cait leaned forward and placed her hand on the man's
arm, putting her mouth close to his ear. 'He said to tell anyone who asked that we are -she paused
precisely long enough to leave no doubt in the courtier's mind that it was a lie, and then added, 'his
nieces.'
The elderly courtier pulled away as if burned by her touch. He drew himself up to speak, and Cait
thought he might refuse them then and there. Instead, he merely turned on his heel and led them across
the entrance hall to a long flight of wooden stairs. Without a word, he indicated that they were to ascend.
Cait thanked the servant and, taking the dumbstruck Alethea's hand, proceeded up the stairs without
looking back.
They emerged on the next floor and stepped into a large, wood-panelled vestibule connecting three long
corridors lined with doors. Two yawning servants leaning against a gilded column regarded the
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
newcomers lazily, but made no move to help them. Cait presented herself and asked in which of the
apartments the Templar de Bracineaux might be found. The chamberlain raised a hand, indicated the
central corridor, and said, 'Sixth door.'
Thea close behind, Cait proceeded down the corridor, drawing a deep breath to calm herself. It was
going better than she had hoped, but an instant's carelessness would ruin everything. They passed several
doors, and heard coarse singing emanating from behind one of them; from behind another came a loud
crash followed by raucous laughter and stamping feet.
So, the local gossip is true, she thought. The Franks sleep when they should work, eat when they should
sleep, and roister when they should pray. They rarely wash, talk too loud, blow their noses on their
clothing, and rut like pigs.
As they approached the sixth door, Alethea squeezed Cait's hand. 'Someone is coming!' she whispered.
Caitriona looked quickly down to the far end of the corridor where a figure had just appeared in the
passageway. As the figure approached she saw the tray of cups in her hand. 'It is just a serving girl/
She waited until the girl drew near and paused at the sixth door, whereupon Cait approached her [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]