The Royals of Hegn - читать онлайн бесплатно полную версию книги . Страница 2

because they descend directly than one of his eight younger have married into the central unshakable connection. Each incomparable claim to distinction, the semi-legendary conqueror or a family tree never sullied duchess but exhibiting (on the

from Rugland&#14 6;s eldest son rather sons; but all the other royal houses line often enough to establish an house also has some unique, such as descent from Alfign the Ax, of North Hegn, or a collateral saint, by marriage with a mere duke or

ever-open page of the Book of the Blood in the palace library) a continuous and unadulterated flowering

of true blue princes and processes.

And so, when the novelty of the annual Addition and Supplements at last wears thin, the royal guests at the royal parties can

always fall back on discussing degrees

of consanguinity, settling of Agnin IVs second marriage, same prince who was slain father&#14 6;s palace against the could not, have been the King of Shut.

such questions as whether the son born to Tivand of Shut, was or was not the at the age of thirteen defending his Anti-Agnates and therefore could, or father of the Duke of Vigrign, later

Such questions are not of interest to everyone, and the placid

fanaticism with which the Hegnish

pursue them bores or offends that the Hegnish have absolutely themselves can also cause offense, is all the Hegnish know about are too polite to say that but if they had to think about

many visitors to the island. The fact no interest in any people except or even rage. Foreigners exist. That them, and all they care to know. They it is a pity that foreigners exist, it, they would think so.

They do not, however, have to think about foreigners. That is

taken care of for them. The

Interplanary Hotel on Hegn is in Hemgogn,

a beautiful little kingdom on the west

coast. The Interplanary guides. The guides, mostly the Alternation of the Watch the blood, wearing magnificent daily. The Agency also offers kingdoms. The bus runs softly along among sunlit orchards and wildfood bus and look at the ruins, palace open to visitors. The but unfailingly civil and the Queen comes down and actually looking at them and instructs invite them to pick and eat orchard, and then she and the of the palace, and the the bus. And that is that.

Agency runs the hotel and hires local dukes and earls, take visitors to see on the Walls, performed by princes of traditional regalia, at noon and six day tours to a couple of other the ancient, indestructible roads forests. The tourists get out of the or walk through the parts of the inhabitants of the palace are aloof courteous, as befits royalty. Perhaps smiles at the tourists without the pretty little Crown Princess to whatever they like in the lunch-Princess go back into the private part tourists have lunch and get back into

Being an introvert, I rather like Hegn. One does not have to mingle,

since one cant. And the food is

good, and the sunlight sweet.

I went there more than once, and

stayed longer than most people

do, and so it happened that I learned

about the Hegnish Commoners.

I was walking down the main street of Legners Royal, the capital

of Hemgogn, when I saw a crowd in the

square in front of the old thought it must be one of and joined the crowd to watch. decorous, and profoundly dull. But are: and they have their own tedious

Church of the Thrice Royal Martyr. I the many annual festivals or rituals These events are always slow, theyre the only events there

charm. Soon, however, I saw this was a

different from any Hegnish ceremony I

funeral. And it was altogether had ever witnessed, above people.

were all royals, of course, like any princesses, duchesses, countesses, the regal reserve, the sovereign always seen in them before. square, for once not engaged in traditional occupation or if for comfort. They were and verged upon being noisy. grieving, openly grieving. person nearest me in the crowd was the aunt by marriage. I knew who she morning at half past eight, walk the Kings pet gorki the hotel, and one of the I had watched from the hotel while the gorki, a fine, himself under the cheeseblossom away into a tranquil vacancy aristocrats.

those pale eyes were filled with tears, with the effort to control

SIZE="2">"Your ladyship," I provide

in case I had it wrong, "forgive funeral is this?"

all in the behavior of the

They crowd in Hegn, all of

them princes, dukes, earls,

etc. But they were not behaving with

aplomb, the majestic apathy I had

They were standing about in the

any kind of prescribed ritual duty or

hobby, but just crowding together. as

disturbed, distressed, disorganized,

They showed emotion. They were

The Dowager Duchess of

Mogn and Farstis, the Queens

was because I had seen her, every