Lion's Heart by Karen Wehrstein

Author:Karen Wehrstein [Wehrstein, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy
ISBN: 9780671720445
Publisher: Baen
Published: 1991-01-31T23:00:00+00:00

I came to know my way around, got used to and in time came to like kri, and learned the language. As in Brahvniki, when my work of studying was done, they treated me to lavish entertainments. I had to tell them that watching tortures was not to my taste, since they thought such fascinations quite natural; I saw a guard impaled for sleeping at his post (though I think it was more for displeasing some noble), to the cheers of a throng who I doubt knew nor cared what he'd done.

I feasted every night with the Kin in the Dinner Hall, and found it is true that they sometimes fight sword-duels inside the ring of tables; it happened four times while I was there, though only one of them was to the death. Lakan lords carry swords in the Palace as if it were besieged, counting the right as their honor; I think they looked down on me somewhat for not doing so. It came to me: even in peace they are at war, with each other, rich against poor, free against slaves, nobles against other nobles; all the aspects are there, the blood, the strict punishments, the oaths, in essence, of relinquishing will; they carry it to their very hearths. Once I asked Astalaz what I should do if someone challenged me; he said no one would, since I was under his protection, but since it would be unmannerly to give anyone just cause for challenge when that was so, I should keep a civil tongue and not cuckold anyone too often. As if I could possibly want to do that, I thought, when there's a woman in my bed every night.

Court functions, wine-parties, feasts and dances, were endless, of course. I became the rage among the unbetrothed women. I should say, everything is fashion in the Palace; the women would wear dung on their heads if they imagined it gave them an air of sophistication and newness, and the young men are not much different. I was "dear" and "darling" to everyone under twenty-five; one would think they didn't know I'd been out on a field killing their countrymen a month ago. It was said that I had a god's son's pride, which in the Palace is the highest praise, though I had no idea what I'd done to earn it.

The party I most enjoyed was one in which a new girl came flirting; she and her father were in town to present her at court tomorrow night, she said, but had not wanted to miss the fete this morning. Presently she saw him, and felt obliged to introduce us; he'd spotted her hand on my shoulder. Seeing his face, I had to set my teeth to keep from laughing. It was Klajen. When he saw mine, his greed in its shock overcame civility, at least for an instant. "You!" As his daughter in her sweet voice said, "And Papa, this is Fourth J'vengka, the Yeoli prince," I could see the coins flashing in his eyes, as he figured out how much he should have got for me.

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