"Brian Daley - Doomfarers of Coramonde" - читать интересную книгу автора (Daley Brian)

20
Of Deaths, Of Departure 21
for forest and field, and was most at home in kennel, aerie or barn. But even Micko, never one for
insight or subtlety, knew the drift of things at Court and must know it was his obligation to
raise the alarm on pain of a traitor's fate. Springbuck could only wait and taste bitterness. But
Micko, a sorrowful expression on his grimy face, said only, "Do not let him take his head, as he
likes to; he will wear himself out early in the ride." Springbuck's cheeks burned. He wanted to
explain why he was flying by night like a criminal, how his enemies had an infinite number of ways
to ensure that he wouldn't survive a duel for the throne, but he couldn't think of any words which
did not strike him as self-serving.
So, he brushed brusquely past Micko and, mounting and masking, guided his horse through the stable
and out across the main bailey, clopping over smooth paving lit by fluttering torches and toward
the portcullis, raised in this time of moribund festivity. He fell in with a group of riders,
laughing celebrants who'd just mounted nearer the palace proper. The gate warder did not try to
delay them, obvious guests of the Queen. As they all rode down the rampway from Earthfast,
Springbuck gradually fell behind his temporary escorts.
Once down the long slope, he stopped and turned in his saddle for one last look at the ancient
keep with its bright lights and whipping flags and battle pennons, as the faint sounds of gaiety
drifted out over the night. With a sigh, he faced back to the way before him. He knew he must make
good distance before dawn, and started down the broad boulevard which led from the palace-fortress
through the city spread at its feet. He'd thought to perhaps hide in the city for a while until it
was feasible to travel overland, but had dismissed the idea. Kee-Amaine would be torn brace from
beam in the search for him and the rewards offered would guarantee betrayal from anyone else who
identified himтАФ unless Micko had already changed his mind.
He cantered slowly down the way, not wishing to attract attention by moving any faster.


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Kee-Amaine, the City of the Protector, surrounded Earthfast as a gaudy collar does* a desperado's
neck,
22
THE DOOMFARERS OF CORAMONDE
being here fine and colorful and there frayed and badly used. The street saw little traffic at
this hour and the lanterns that lined it flickered fitfully in the night wind. He passed a
detachment of the civic watch making its rounds, but they didn't bother to hail him or ask his
business, seeing him come from the palace-fortress, since things had seemed quiet this night. It
was getting тАв colder, and they were anxious to finish their tour and return to lay down their
heavy pikes for the warmth of their barracks berths.
Before Springbuck's grandfather had imported the twin innovations of night patrols and
streetlighting, life in Kee-Amaine had been confined after dark, since none but the well-armed or
foolish ventured out into the threatening blackness to risk robbery or murder.
Two riders approached from the other direction, that of the Brass Lion Gate, which gave access to
the Western Tangent. Their course would bring them right past him, but Springbuck thought that
conspicuously avoiding them would be poor strategy, and so rode along,
He was soon sorry he did; as they neared him, he recognized them for Novanwyn, a Legion-Marshal
and favorite of Fania's, and his senior captain, Desenge. They stopped and stared at him curiously
just as he drew even with them, and Desenge called out, "What does an Alebowrenian do here,
sitting a horse which I myself saw in the royal stables only this afternoon?"