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

The Prince stopped, like it or not. To ignore them would demand pursuit and ruinous inquiry.
Besides, Desenge carried in its saddle rest his long spear, Finder, heavy and black and said by
some to be unable to miss its mark when it flew from its owner's hand, with many ill deeds to its
name.
The Prince attempted to disguise his voice, hoping that the war mask would help, as he faced them
and answered, "I have just made obeisance for my liege, Knight-Commander to the Warchief of
Alebowrene, at the feet of your Queen. My horse was lamed and I was given this one to take Her
Grace's regard to my lord." Novanwyn inclined his head politely. "Please excuse my aide's
curiosity." He smiled blandly. "And let us keep you tarrying no longer. Oh, and if you would be so
Of Deaths, Of Departure
23
kindтАФLegion-Marshal Novanwyn's respects to your liege?"
Springbuck grunted noncommittally and continued on his way, shaken. Passing long walls and
hedgerows bordering the way in this area, he rode for a time, then paused in a side street and
squinted back along the way to see if he were being followed. To no avail; either he wasn't
pursued or his nearsightedness made it impossible to see those behind him.
He decided, though, to take a circuitous route, swinging past the marketplace and coming round to
the southern wall and the Brass Lion Gate by back streets. He hoped that, in tomorrow's turmoil at
his escape, no one would link a renegade Prince to a lone Alebowrenian. Then it occurred to him
that it was a foolish hope; Duskwind had seen his attire.
Memories of Hightower's death began to intrude again and he spent the ride in painful examination
of his conscience. Alternate outcomes spun in his head; if he'd moved sooner, faster, fought
harder, could he have saved the Duke? Should he have stayed in Earthfast and fought the duel? At
best, he would eventually have had to meet Strongblade in arms, Strongblade who was wont to toy
with two lesser opponents at a time and who'd often bested their instructor, Eliatim.
Springbuck's stealthy leave-taking and the deaths of Hightower arid Faurbuhl began in him a desire
for some act of violence and retribution, with a vague idea that he could expiate his shame and
redeem his self-respect.
Perhaps there would come an opportunity in the promised war between Coramonde and Freegate, if
things actually went that far. No major war had been fought in or by Coramonde in nearly a
generation, but FaniaтАФand Yardiff BeyтАФseemed set on starting one. There were many and diverse
substates under Coramonde; to greater or lesser extent internal friction was a constant. It wasn't
beyond conceiving that Springbuck could find support for an attempt at wresting back the Crown.
But there came to him the lines from the Old Tongue," impressed upon him with admonishments by his
father, regarding civil war:
24 THE DOOMFARERS OF CORAMONDE
He should pause and search his heart well
Who thinks to go Doomfaring
In the War that is war between brothers.
A single house bleeds with Every internecine fall of the sword And the abattoiral axe.
Could such wounds to Coramonde be justified? The Prince was unsure.


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Still, if armies were waging war on the far side of the Keel of Heaven, the situation could come
full ripe for the dislodging of Fania and Strongblade.
And Yardiff Bey.
Springbuck thought again of the look that had passed between the Queen and the sorcerer in the