"Flint, Kenneth C - Gods of Eire 01 - The Riders of the Sidhe UC" - читать интересную книгу автора (Flint Kenneth C)

"You've seen only their garrison troops. The worst of them. These are the household troops of Balor himself. He must know!"

She thought a moment, deepening those lines which fear of this day had etched into her face. Then she spoke, harshly and without compromise:

"Cecht, they'll not be easy to stop," she said. In fact, she knew that these attackers could not be stopped at all. But she had no wish to wound her commander's pride. "You must make this as hard as you can for them. It may mean the death of every one of usЧevery warrior, woman, childЧbut we must hold them as long as we can!"

"We know, my Queen," he replied. "We've always known."

THE SEA GOD 5

She smiled at him gently, sadly, placing a hand lightly upon

his arm.

"Loyal Cecht," she said. "It's glad I've been to have you beside me until this day. And it's glad I am to have you with me now."

He nodded, understanding the depth of feeling behind the simple words. She dropped her hand and added in a brisk

voice:

"Go now. See to the defense. And have the boy sent up to

me."

He hurried from the room and she turned back to the window. The ships were already against the cliffs below, out of her sight. But she knew that their warriors were swarming up the treacherous cliff-face without fear or hesitation. It would be only moments before they would come against the walls. "Taillta," said a voice behind her.

She turned to face a boy, tall for his fifteen years, fair-haired and slender, and with a fine, long nose and boldly jutting chin that age would chisel to clean, sharp handsomeness. He was breathless with his run to her and vibrating with an excitement he could not totally control.

"Taillta... those ships... who are they? What's happening?"

"They're coming to attack us, Lugh," she answered bluntly.

"Attack!" The idea startled him at first. Then a look of

determination hardened his young face. "I've got to join the

companies," he said firmly.

He moved swiftly to the weapons hung along the walls and seized a longsword, pulling it from its brackets. But Taillta moved up behind him, gripping his shoulder.

"Lugh, you can't join them. You've got to leave." He whirled to her, his look confused. "Leave? What do you mean? I've got to fight!" He was aroused by the expectation of battle. The fire of it ruddied his pale skin, lit his grey eyes. His muscles were taut with the need to act, his legs set solidly, his sword gripped tight. She saw all of it and she felt a sudden stabbing of regret. She had hoped that the need for this would never come. He had been a poet, a craftsman, a lover of the peaceful ways taught him. A mild boy, safe here from the worries of the world.

Harshly she reminded herself that she knew this day would

6 THE RIDERS OF THE SIDHE

come. She fought back the sorrow which had threatened to overwhelm her usual control.

She moved close to him and stroked his beardless cheek lightly. He realized that her eyes were full of tears.