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

bigger of the two and more accomplished in arms. But Springbuck was not so naive as to think that
his stepmother and her adherents would leave this critical issue to chance. After all, the writ of
the Protector Suzerain of Coramonde ran for the entire eastern half of the Crescent Lands, that
tremendous sweep of lands which arcs around the Central Sea.
Even Springbuck's last-ditch offer to abjure his royal heritage without trial was rebuffed with a
cold reminder that it was his duty to put the affair squarely hi the laps of the gods.
Just as they'd said at Court, Springbuck was not the fighter his father had been. Surehand, a
stubborn man with a quick temper, had been aware of his own shortcomings and had tried to school
them out of his firstborn son. "Think first," he would tell worshipful Springbuck, "and don't let
your hand be hasty to move. Have I not told you that haste is the thing that has caused me more
regret than any other? Pause, reflect and weigh your options."
In the end, some impulse of self-preservation or awakening of the mettle of his ancestors had
moved the Prince to plan escape to preserve his life. But he was unprepared for the events of this


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evening.
He attempted to maintain his dignity as he strode through the great doorsтАФstalwart things of hard
ebony bound up in iron and studded with thick rivetsтАФand into the brightness of Court, so familiar
in hours spent
Oj Deaths, Of Departure 5
at his father's side, and now seemingly the camp of the enemy.
Lanterns cleverly wrought in brass and blown glass lit the spacious, tapestried room and filled it
with their sweet scent. The windowless walls were hung with the banners of various legions and
houses. Over the dais hung the royal standard, a snarling tiger, scarlet on black, and beneath it
the personal ensigns of Springbuck, his stepmother Fania and his half brother Strong-bladeтАФa
stag's head, dolphin and bear, respectively.
The^ throne was vacant; across its arms rested Flare-core, the greatsword reserved for the ruler
of CoramondeтАФthe Ku-Mor-Mai, as the Protector Suzerain was called in the Old Tongue. Springbuck's
stepmother held Court seated in an ornate chair at the foot of the dais; she wanted no accusations
that she was disrespectful of her late husband's memory or custom. She wore a robe of imperial
white which contrasted well with her thick, raven's wing hair.
Because Earthfast was the best fortified place in Coramonde there were only eleven men-at-arms hi
the throne room itself. Eight archers watched, weapons at ready, from ledges above the milling
courtiers, four at either side of the room. They wore brown leathers, had quivers of barbed arrows
at then: shoulders and were now sworn to Fania by secret oaths.
On the dais itself, behind the Queen, were three fighting slaves, family heirlooms after a
fashion, yielded to Springbuck's grandfather by a conciliatory king after the epic battle at
Skystem Crag. They were not members of the race of men, and many called them ogres. Bigger than
humans, coarse and mighty as oaks, they were dressed cap-a-pie in plate armor thicker than any man
might wear.
Springbuck heard muted laughter and murmurings from the throng as his entrance drew attention. The
lush smells of their mingling perfumes and oils came to him, and the dainty scuffing of slippers
and stirrings of extravagant clothing. The Court had, beforetimes, been composed of wise advisers,
faithful deputies and stern fighting men. Under Fania it consisted of carpet knights
6 THE DOOMFARERS OF CORAMONDE
and dissipaters; Surehand's old confidants didn't come often or stay for long.
He realized that, aside from the titterings, there was an unaccustomed silence in the chamber,