"Rawn, Melanie - Dragon Star 2 - Dragon Token" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dragon Stories)

Riyan flexed stiff fingers around his reins and rotated his sore right shoulder. He'd slaughtered so many Merida and Cunaxans that he'd wrenched a muscle in the process. "I don't think we can. Sorin built it too well. It's too imposing. One look and nobody in his right mind would attack."

"That's what everybody thought about Stronghold, too."

"But Feruche is relatively easy to supply, which Stronghold really wasn't. They knew you had to come out and fight eventually. What about Skybowl?"

"What about it?" Pol asked, his impatience returning. "You own it, you know it better than anybody but your father. How would you use it?"

"It's too steep to attack from or mount an assault against. But there's a good flat stretch out beyond it, if you've a mind to a pitched battle."

"I don't. We lose them," he replied bluntly.

Riyan said nothing.

After a moment Pol shrugged irritably. "We're beating our wings without flying anywhere. Tomorrow morning we'll be back at Feruche, where two Battle Commanders can think this out much better than we can. Chay didn't have much to do the last thirty years, but Zehava kept him good and busy before that. And he taught Maarken everything he knows."

"But you've got an advantage with Maarken. He's a Sunrunner. He'll use that in his battle plans, too."

Pol glanced back and slowed his horse, seeing that they were a little too far ahead of the others. "That's something else I wanted to talk to you about. What we did at Stronghold worked, as far as it went. Sectioning off the enemy under a fire domeЧand we'll have to think up a better word for that, too. It wasn't really the ros'sa-lath Andry used at Goddess Keep."

"It didn't kill," Riyan murmured.

"No, it only allowed the soldiers to do our killing for us." He slammed his fist against the pommel, startling his horse. "Hells, RiyanЧI dance as I like around an oath I never swore, but the rest of youЧ"

"Чwill make peace with ourselves. And with the Goddess."

"Very pretty," Pol snapped. "Stop trying to make me feel better."

Riyan gave him an overdone bow from the saddle. "It's Maarken's duty to kick you when you need it. The rest of your athr'im must soothe your bruised backside. Which reminds meЧwith a victory to celebrate, would it be the right time to take formal oath of us? There's Chay, Maarken, and meЧ"

"And that madman Kazander."

"He'd swear to you?" Riyan asked in amazement. "An Isulki?"

"He's crazy enough to swear the sun sets in the east if I ask him to."

"I don't dare imagine the words he'll use in the oath-taking. Does he always talk like that?"

Pol smiled briefly. "Worse. I think it's a good idea about the vassals. We'll include your little brother, too, on your father's behalf."

"Dannar will enjoy that. Kierun and Isriam can swear to you for their fathers, as well. You don't happen to have another prince handy, do you? One of them ought to take oath in token of the rest."

"Not all of whom are thrilled with the prospect of me as High Prince. No, I left Daniv down at Skybowl with Walvis and Feylin. He'll be sorry to miss all the princely trimmings. There was a banquet once, at Radzyn, and my father saysЧ" he closed his mouth and glanced away.

"I understand," Riyan told him quietly. "It hurts us all. But it's hardest on you."

He shook his head. "Goddess, I wish it were. I can stand itЧat least, I think I can. I have to. But my motherЧyou don't know what this has done to her. At least I can go out and kill people."

"It helps."