"Kerr, Katharine - Westlands 02 - A Time Of War v1.1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dragon Stories)

СDo, please.Т
The linnet began to fly lower, dropping down toward the countryside and heading straight for the water-veil rising up from the stream in the valley. Jill was just ready to shout a warning, because the currents of elemental force above moving water would tear an etheric form apart, when she remembered that not only was Dallandra very much in the physical, but that she was also a master of the strange dweomer of hidden roads. The linnet swooped, skittered, fluttering along the water-veil, then suddenly spiralled up to disappear through one of the mysterious gates that led into the country where she lived with her beloved.
Ye gods, Jill thought to herself, how she puts up with Evandar for two days together is beyond me! ThereТs all his riddling and wild talk, and besides, heТs neither human nor elven, not truly incarnate at all - itТs too perverse for the likes of me! Then she had to laugh at herself, that in the midst of all these strange events and mighty dweomers, she could still worry over a friendТs choice of men. She soared back to Cengarn, reaching the dun just as the first dawn touched the eastern sky.
When Jahdo woke and found himself in their new chamber, high up in the main tower of the broch, he lay still for a long time and wished that he were dreaming, that heТd wake to find himself home, but the big wedge shape of a chamber stayed stubbornly real in the grey light of early dawn. Home or not, their new lodging was certainly better than the dungeon keep. Across the room, Meer lay snoring in a proper bed, surrounded by embroidered hangings, while Jahdo had a trundle bed with good blankets all to himself. In one corner of the room stood a bronze charcoal brazier in case some night turned chilly. Under the window lay a wooden chest, covered at the moment with bags and sacks. The night before, Rhodry had hunted round the dun and found most of their captured gear, although much to JahdoТs sorrow, his grandfatherТs knife had never turned up. Most likely it lay on the riverbank by the forest where Rhodry had made him drop it, back in what seemed like another life.
Since he was hungry, he got up, pulling on his trousers, and padded across the floor bare-footed to find the chamber pot at the far end of the chamber. When he was done, he went to the window and began rummaging as quietly as he could in the sacks to see if there was any food left in them. All at once the entire pile shifted and slid, thumping onto the floor. Meer woke with a snort and a curse.
СMy apologies,Т Jahdo said. СI was trying to be quiet. I just did drop some sacks and stuff.Т
Meer snorted again and yawned, rubbing the sides of his face with both hands.
СIt be dawn out and light in here,Т Jahdo said. СDown in the ward thereТs servants walking round and stuff. I was just wondering if we had any food in these sacks.Т
СA good wondering, that. Hand me my clothes, and IТll get out of bed.Т
Down in the corner of one sack Jahdo did find a few slices of dried apple, and there was a flagon of fresh water and a wooden cup in the chamber as well, so they had a bit of a meal to tide them over. When the sun was brightening on the dun wall, a servant unbarred the door to their chamber and came in with a loaf of bread, some fried bacon and a pitcher of milk, brought specifically because Meer had asked for it the night before. The lass looked at Meer in such terror that she probably would have thrown the food onto the floor and run if Jill hadnТt been standing right behind her.
СJahdo, come take these things, will you?Т the mazrak said. СI thought IТd come in for a bit of a chat.Т
Jahdo could think of nothing more likely to spoil oneТs breakfast than a conversation with a sorcerer, but he smiled politely and did as he was told. Jill perched on the recently-cleared chest at the window while Jahdo served Meer his food and got his own. The boy and the bard sat on the edge of the bed to eat.
СNow,Т Jill said. СMeer, I know that youТre a prisoner of war. For me to question you about your homeland goes contrary to all the laws of honour, but IТm desperate enough to try.Т
Meer merely grunted and fanged a rasher.
СConsider the evil that your own people will suffer,Т Jill went on. This false goddess will lead them into great harm.Т
СMy own people realize that very thing, mazrak,Т Meer said with his mouth full. СWith the exception of my ill-begotten foal of a brother, she has no followers there.Т
Jill hesitated, cocking her head to one side, honestly puzzled.
СItТs the wild tribes,Т Jahdo said. СThe ones in the north, not MeerТs people in the west. ThatТs where all the prophets do come from.Т
СThe what?Т Jill turned to him with her icicle stare, stabbing into his very soul. СWhere is this?Т
Jahdo felt suddenly sick. Deep in his mind a memory tried to rise, another pair of ice blue eyes, another stare that had pinned him down. He whimpered and broke away, flinging up a hand as if to ward a blow. Meer turned toward him with a questioning sort of growl.
СHere, lad!Т JillТs voice softened, and her eyes were normal again. I wonТt hurt you. IТm sorry if I frightened you. I never knew there was such a thing as wild tribes, you see, till this very moment, and it took me by surprise, like.Т
СAll right С He was surprised to find his voice steady. СMeer, may I tell her about the tribes? Or would that be dishonourable? I be worried about whatТs going to happen to my own people if they get attacked and stuff. My father says we should always be scared of them, you know.Т
The bard considered, wiping his mouth on the back of one hairy hand, while Jill merely sat and waited for his decision. In the strong sunlight she seemed more frail than ever, as if her skin and flesh were translucent. Jahdo found himself thinking of bayberry candle wax.
СI will speak for us both,Т Meer said at last. The tribes may be Horsekin, but theyТre no allies of the Gel daТThae. If theyТve gone over to the false goddess, then they be enemies indeed.Т
СMy thanks, good bard.Т Jill sounded profoundly relieved. СIs there a difference between Horsekin and Gel daТThae?Т
СOf a sort. We were all the same people, though a people made up of warring tribes, in a past very long gone indeed. But now my people live in the ruined cities of the Children of the Gods, while the wild tribes still roam the -untamed plains of the north with their horse herds. Ah, the plains! The treasure that we Gel daТThae have lost! And cursed poor custodians the wild tribes have proved for it, too. Huh, they dare to wage war without any of the proper rituals and procedures. In war it behooves a man to be ruthless, but theyТve stooped to using any and every weapon at their disposal, including the four evil magicks and the seven cowardsТ tricks. You wouldnТt be alone there, mazrak.Т
Jahdo flinched, hoping that Jill wasnТt about to blast Meer with lightning or suchlike, but she merely smiled.
СI see,Т she said. СAnd itТs those tribes who worship Alshandra?Т
СThey do, indeed.Т
СAh, things are beginning to fall into place. Now, when you say the wild tribes are to the north, do you mean due north or north and west?Т
СNorth and west. Not so far west for my folk, though far, far west from here.Т
СOne last thing, Meer. What do you mean when you say ruined cities of the Children of the Gods?Т
СThat I will not tell you.Т
СVery well. Let me guess. Long long ago the Horsekin conquered seven rich cities, filled with marvels, and in their rage and ignorance destroyed them utterly. To this day the people known as Gel daТThae eke out their lives near the remains of the beauty they destroyed.Т
Meer tossed back his head and howled, a thin keen of rage and mourning mingled. She be dweomer indeed! Jahdo thought, to ken such things and them as old as old. Jill smiled, sitting calm and easy, until Meer at last fell silent. For a moment he turned his head this way and that, focused at last on the sound of her breathing, and swung his head toward her.
СItТs true,Т he whispered. СYouТve seen our ancient shame, mazrak. How? In a scrying crystal? Did the spirits come to you and bring you visions? How?Т
СNot magic at all, but memory, the story passed down and down the long years by bards, or even written in books. I have a book, Meer, that tells the story whole and speaks of your people as well, but as they were that thousand years or more ago. Not all the folk who lived in those cities died. Some escaped to find a refuge and remember the harsh Wyrd that had fallen upon their people. Some live west of here. Others sailed in boats far far to the south across the sea, and there they live to this day.Т
For a long time Meer sat with his head turned as it would have been if heТd had eyes to stare at her. At last he turned away with a long sigh.
СI will speak no more to you, mazrak. I am, however, going to think about what you say.Т
СMy thanks, and thatТs all IТd ask of you.Т She turned to Jahdo. СSo, lad. You come from the Rhiddaer, do you?Т
СI do. I mean, uh, I didnТt know youТd know about that. Or be that writ down in one of them books, too?Т
СIt is, indeed. But IТm probably the only person in all of Deverry whoТs both heard of the Rhiddaer and cares one whit about it, so donТt let it trouble your heart. I can understand why you donТt want the Slavers to come meddling with your country.Т
СGood, Сcause we donТt.Т Jahdo summoned every shred of courage he had. СWe be tree now, and free weТll stay.Т
СAnd I promise you somewhat, lad. IТd die myself before IТd let anyone enslave your folk ever again. I mean that from the very bottom of my heart. It was a wrong thing that Deverry men did when they stole your peopleТs land and freedom, and those of us who serve the dweomer have condemned it from the very beginning.Т
The quiet way she spoke convinced Jahdo that she meant every word of it. His eyes filled with tears again, and he found he couldnТt speak.
СTell me somewhat, mazrak,Т Meer broke in. Apparently he could no longer stand his self-imposed silence, not when there was lore to be had. СMay I ask you a question in turn for those youТve been asking me?Т
СOf course, though I may not answer, since at times you wonТt answer me.Т
СFair enough. You know about JahdoТs people, and your name sounds as if it came from his country. Have you lived there, then?Т
СI havenТt, but IТve heard tales from the Westfolk, the horseherders who live out on the grasslands between our two peoples.Т
СHorseherders!Т Jahdo blurted. СSee, Meer, I were right.Т