JК
The Floodgate :: Каннингем Элейн
Страница: 128 из 212You are a credit to your father, and a fine healer."
Her smile broadened and became feline. "I have other talents."
"No doubt," he murmured, now thoroughly puzzled.
With an exasperated little sigh, the woman pushed her chemise aside to bare her shoulders and struck an unmistakably seductive pose. "Join me," she invited bluntly.
Matteo's cheeks burned with embarrassment. He felt a fool for not reading her meaning sooner.
This seemed to amuse her. "Why so amazed, jordain? I offer a hour's pleasure, no regrets or consequence."
Matteo quickly collected himself. "All actions have consequences, lady. This, perhaps more than most." The girl's puzzlement seemed genuine, so he explained. "The jordaini are forbidden to have families."
She sent him an indulgent smile. "I am not asking you to wed with me. A bit of frolic-what could come of that?"
Matteo studied the girl. She was young and by all appearances pampered and gently raised. Halruaan girls were often sheltered. Despite her bold ways, was it possible that she truly did not know?
"A child could come of it," he said gently.
Dumbfounded, she gazed at him for a long moment She shook her head and began to chuckle. "Now, that would be one of Mystra's better miracles! That 'purification' ritual of yours is one of the best ideas to come out of the Jordaini College. With magical bloodlines so important, no one dares risk a bastard." Her smile turned knowing, and she began to loosen the ties on her chemise. "Stallions might be swift, but geldings run best and longest. Why do you think the jordaini are so popular among the ladies of Halruaa?"
It was Matteo's turn to be stunned beyond speech. He had not undergone the purification ritual, a final trial followed by a time of solitary contemplation. He had never suspected anything like this, but he did not doubt the truth behind the girl's words. It was too logical, and it explained many things.
One part of his mind calmly acknowledged that the purification rite was a prudent precaution. He would not be surprised if unreliable or even dangerous gifts had crept back into the line through jordaini offspring. Precaution was the grandchild of disaster, and a measure so drastic would not be taken unless it was necessary.
Even as he acknowledged this, another part of him burned with white-hot anger. How could such a decision be taken from the young men and women who became jordaini? Did they not deserve to know, and chose?
He gave the girl a curt bow. "Thank you for your kind thoughts, but I must leave.
Her smile broadened and became feline. "I have other talents."
"No doubt," he murmured, now thoroughly puzzled.
With an exasperated little sigh, the woman pushed her chemise aside to bare her shoulders and struck an unmistakably seductive pose. "Join me," she invited bluntly.
Matteo's cheeks burned with embarrassment. He felt a fool for not reading her meaning sooner.
This seemed to amuse her. "Why so amazed, jordain? I offer a hour's pleasure, no regrets or consequence."
Matteo quickly collected himself. "All actions have consequences, lady. This, perhaps more than most." The girl's puzzlement seemed genuine, so he explained. "The jordaini are forbidden to have families."
She sent him an indulgent smile. "I am not asking you to wed with me. A bit of frolic-what could come of that?"
Matteo studied the girl. She was young and by all appearances pampered and gently raised. Halruaan girls were often sheltered. Despite her bold ways, was it possible that she truly did not know?
"A child could come of it," he said gently.
Dumbfounded, she gazed at him for a long moment She shook her head and began to chuckle. "Now, that would be one of Mystra's better miracles! That 'purification' ritual of yours is one of the best ideas to come out of the Jordaini College. With magical bloodlines so important, no one dares risk a bastard." Her smile turned knowing, and she began to loosen the ties on her chemise. "Stallions might be swift, but geldings run best and longest. Why do you think the jordaini are so popular among the ladies of Halruaa?"
It was Matteo's turn to be stunned beyond speech. He had not undergone the purification ritual, a final trial followed by a time of solitary contemplation. He had never suspected anything like this, but he did not doubt the truth behind the girl's words. It was too logical, and it explained many things.
One part of his mind calmly acknowledged that the purification rite was a prudent precaution. He would not be surprised if unreliable or even dangerous gifts had crept back into the line through jordaini offspring. Precaution was the grandchild of disaster, and a measure so drastic would not be taken unless it was necessary.
Even as he acknowledged this, another part of him burned with white-hot anger. How could such a decision be taken from the young men and women who became jordaini? Did they not deserve to know, and chose?
He gave the girl a curt bow. "Thank you for your kind thoughts, but I must leave.