"David Gemmell - Winter Warriors" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gemmel David)

'I don't know.'

Orendo drank again, then tossed the bottle to Nogusta. The black man took a deep swallow. 'It all
went wrong,' said Orendo. 'Never put your trust in kings. That's what they say. It was all so
glorious in those early days. We knew where we were. The Ventrians invaded us and we fought back.
We knew what we were fighting for.' Blood was pooling on the snow now. 'Then the boy-king
convinced us we should invade Ventria, to force the emperor to end the war. No territorial
ambitions, he said. Justice and peace were all he wanted. We believed him, didn't we? Now look at
him! Emperor Skanda, would-be conqueror of the world. Now he's going to invade Cadia. But he has
no territorial ambitions. Oh no ... the bastard!' Orendo lay back and Nogusta moved around the
fire to sit alongside him. 'You remember that boy I saved?' asked Orendo.

'Yes. It was a fine deed.'

'You think it will count for me? You know ... if there is a paradise?'
'I hope so.'

Orendo sighed. 'I can't feel the cold now. That's a good thing. I've always hated the cold. Tell
Bison not to judge me too hard, eh?'

'I am sure that he won't.'

Orendo's voice was slurring, then his eyes flared open. 'There are demons,' he said, suddenly. T
can see them. There are demons!'

He died then, and Nogusta rose, collected the pouch of jewels and walked to his horse.

He glanced up at the sky, which was blue, clear and bright. Not a trace of cloud.

Stepping into the saddle he gathered the other three mounts and headed back for the city.

There were demons in the air over the city of Usa, shroud-pale and skinny, their talons long,
their teeth sharp. Ordinary eyes could not see them, and they seemed to pose no threat to ordinary
folk.

Why then are they here, thought Ulmenetha? Why do they hover close to the palace? The large
priestess pushed her thick fingers through her short cropped blond hair. Rising from her bed she
poured water into a bowl and washed her face. Refreshed she silently opened the connecting door
and stepped through into the queen's bedroom. Axiana was asleep, lying on her back, one white
slender arm curled around a satin pillow. Ulmenetha smiled. Only a few years before that arm had,
in the same manner, cuddled a stuffed toy - a woollen lioness with only one glass eye.

Now Axiana was a child no longer.


Ulmenetha sighed. Despite her bulk the priestess moved silently across the royal bedroom, casting
an affectionate look at the pregnant Axiana. The queen's face shone in the moonlight, and, in
sleep, Ulmenetha could just discern the child she had grown to love. 'May your dreams be rich and
joyful,' she whispered.