"Flint, Kenneth C - Gods of Eire 03 - Master of the Sidhe UC" - читать интересную книгу автора (Flint Kenneth C)

So far his plans had been thwarted, but the resilient Bres was not to be beaten easily, as Lugh and his friends had discovered more than once. His aura of dominance and power was as strong now as ever before.

RUNNING THE MAZE

11

"He means for you to go out there and meet him," the one-eyed escort told them, gesturing with his spear. "Go on. You'll be safe there." And he withdrew into the avenue

Lugh and his friends exchanged questioning looks. The Dagda shrugged.

"Well, they at least can't come upon us by surprise here."

Lugh nodded in agreement. He started forward, the others closing in around him.

The square was no cleaner than the rest of the city, and the smell of it was worse. Straw was scattered on the yellow-stained pavement, and the place was littered with the remains of food and dung, as if it were used for penning animals.

Like Bres, they moved a third of the way into the area and stopped, forming a line to face him.

"I hoped you'd be the one to come, Lugh Lamfada," he said with satisfaction. His voice was surprisingly soft and slow, but carried an intensity that made each word clear. He cast a disdainful gaze across the others. "But why do you still travel with such a strange company?" He looked at Morrigan and the Dagda. "These two aging 'Champions' must be more a burden than a help. After all these years, they can't have any real powers left."

"There's still enough life in us to see you finished, Bres," the Dagda growled in reply.

Bres only laughed with scorn at that and turned toward Gilla. "And this absurd Clown seems as useless. He must be very amusing to you."

"I keep them laughing all the time, that I do," Gilla agreed affably. "But I can't come close to doing it so well as you, Bres. Why, that time your own horse threw you in the mudЧ"

"Enough!" Bres said sharply. His dark eyes flashed the Clown a look of open hatred. Then he turned from Gilla to Aine and the manner softened.

"Dear Aine," he said, eyeing her affectionately. "Such a lovely and ruthless woman you are." Regret filled his voice. "Ah, such a fine mate you might have made to me. You could still leave them, you know. Join me!"

This was more than enough for Lugh. He stepped forward, cutting off Bres's view of Aine.

12

MASTER OF THE SIDHE

"No more of this, Bres," he said brusquely. "You agreed to meet us. Will you hear our terms or not?"

"Quick to the point, boy, as usual," Bres said. "All right. Let me hear what you have to say."

"We have to know what your intentions are," Lugh stated frankly. "We've come to give you the chance to surrender. If you agree, you and these Fomor can leave Eire in safety." He paused. "You can save many lives, Bres."

"You're very full of yourself, aren't you?" Bres said derisively. "You've won a few battles, and now I'm to just let it go, let Eire go? My Eire? You're a greater fool than I thought

you were!"

"You're the fool, Bres, if you believe you can bring, this sorry lot to fight again!" the Dagda returned with heat. "They're broken!"

"Are they?" he shot back vehemently. "Well, I have every Fomor warrior left in Eire gathered here now, ready to face you again. And when I meet the de Dananns this time, I'll have the force to crush them. That I promise!"