"Kate Forsyth - Eileanan 01 - The Witches Of Eileanan" - читать интересную книгу автора (Forsyth Kate)

"Can ye remember the story o' the Third Fairgean Wars, Beau?"

"Well, I ken the Fairgean invaded usтАФI do no' ken why ... it was years ago, afore I was born.
They came in stealth, filling up the lochan and rivers so that it was dangerous to even water the herds
. . . The R├мgh called together the first army in centuries . .. since the Second Fairgean Wars. They
drove away the Fairgean ... He died, I think ..." Isabeau's voice faltered.

"Listen to me well, Isabeau, a witch needs to learn as much as she canтАФonly with knowledge and
understanding can she gain the High Magic. Ye are no' a bairn anymore. If the rumors be true, there
may be civil war across the land and that will affect us all, even ye and me in this wee valley o' ours.
Now listen well," Meghan said. "Twenty years ago Parteta the Brave was killed, fighting off the
invasion o' the Fairgean, who had come with the rising tide to try and win back the coast o' Clachan
and Ravenshaw. That same day his eldest son Jaspar was crowned the new R├мgh, kneeling amongst
the blood and fire o' the battlefield, the Lodestar blazing in his fist. Although he was still a boy,
without hair on his chin or chest, Jaspar drove the Fairgean from the shores o' Clachan, and they
fled back into the sea."
 Isabeau nodded, though she could not see much difference between what she and Meghan had
said.

"The R├мgh Jaspar returned to Lucescere as a hero, to be greeted there in joy and sorrow by his
mother Lavinya, and his three younger brothers, Feargus, Donncan, and Lachlan. For three years
peace and prosperity reigned, till Lavinya followed her husband into death. Again the castle
mourned, for Lavinya had been both kind and wise, and she would be sorely missed. The R├мgh was
now standing on the threshold o' manhood, strong and bonny like a sapling tree, and all Eileanan had
reason to believe he would be a r├мgh as his father had been and his father afore himтАФjust but
merciful, strong but compassionate, brave but wise. However, by his eighteenth birthday, the R├мgh
was filled with a restlessness he did no' understand, and was growing impatient with affairs o' state.
When a bonny stranger came to the castle dressed in red velvet with a hawk on her wrist, the R├мgh
was struck with love for her as if by lightning. They were married that week, with much rejoicing in
the city, and so it was that Maya the Unknown became Banr├мgh o' Eileanan." The musical lilt of
Meghan's voice hardened with rage, and Isabeau thought that she spoke the name of the Banr├мgh
with hatred.

"Now we come to the events which more closely involve us. No' everyone was pleased with the
marriage o' the R├мgh. There were many who spoke against Maya, those who distrusted her because
she was a stranger, and those who were perturbed by her growing power over the R├мgh. It seemed
as if a spell had been laid upon him: he no longer rode out among the people nor sat in judgings nor
helped plant the summer crops. He spent his days with Maya in her boudoir, and when he emerged,
his eyes were glazed like that o' a man who had drunk o' moonbane. He seemed barely to recognize
his brothers, or his faithful auld servants.

"He began to disdain the Coven o' Witches, who had helped his father govern the land for so
many years and who had studied much o' wisdom and knowledge. Maya used her power to sway
the R├мghтАФshe said that the magical creatures were uile-bheistean and must be destroyed. So it
became a great feat to kill the dragons and nyx and winged horses and all the other magical
creatures that were once great allies o' the Clan o' MacCuinn. She spoke against the Coven o'
Witches, and infiltrated it with acolytes o' her own that twisted the Creed and made it serve Maya.
Tabithas, who led the Coven, fell from the R├мgh's favor and he would no longer heed her advice.
Eventually he raised the Lodestar against the witches, who had always served him faithfully, and
allowed the Red Guards to storm the Towers. That was, o' course, the Day o' Betrayal. It was then