"Robert Jordan - Knife of Dreams Prologue (Embers Falling on Dry Grass)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jordan Robert)

тАЬWhy arenтАЩt you on your way to Nassad, Trom?тАЭ Disapproval colored ValdaтАЩs words.
тАЬThe other Lords Captain will be halfway there by now.тАЭ He himself always arrived late
when meeting the Seanchan, perhaps to assert that some shred of independence remained
to the ChildrenтАФfinding him already preparing to depart was a surprise; this meeting
must be very importantтАФbut he always made sure the other high-ranking officers arrived
on time even when that required setting out before dawn. Apparently it was best not to
press their new masters too far. Distrust of the Children was always strong in the
Seanchan.

Trom displayed none of the uncertainty that might have been expected from a man who
had held his present rank barely a month. тАЬAn urgent matter, my Lord Captain
Commander,тАЭ he said smoothly, making a very precise bow, neither a hair deeper nor
higher than protocol demanded. тАЬA Child of my command charges another of the
Children with abusing a female relative of his, and claims the right of Trial Beneath the
Light, which by law you must grant or deny.тАЭ

тАЬA strange request, my son,тАЭ Asunawa said, tilting his head quizzically above clasped
hands, before Valda could speak. Even the High InquisitorтАЩs voice was doleful; he
sounded pained at TromтАЩs ignorance. His eyes seemed dark hot coals in a brazier. тАЬIt was
usually the accused who asked to give the judgment to swords, and I believe usually
when he knew the evidence would convict him. In any case, Trial Beneath the Light has
not been invoked for nearly four hundred years. Give me the accusedтАЩs name, and I will
deal with the matter quietly.тАЭ His tone turned chill as a sunless cavern in winter, though
his eyes still burned. тАЬWe are among strangers, and we cannot allow them to know that
one of the Children is capable of such a thing.тАЭ

тАЬThe request was directed to me, Asunawa,тАЭ Valda snapped. His glare might as well have
been open hatred. Perhaps it was just dislike of the other manтАЩs breaking in. Flipping one
side of his cloak over his shoulder to bare his ring-quilloned sword, he rested his hand on
the long hilt and drew himself up. Always one for the grand gesture, Valda raised his
voice so that even people inside probably heard him, and declaimed rather than merely
spoke.
тАЬI believe many of our old ways should be revived, and that law still stands. It will
always stand, as written of old. The Light grants justice because the Light is justice.
Inform your man he may issue his challenge, Trom, and face the one he accuses sword-
to-sword. If that one tries to refuse, I declare that he has acknowledged his guilt and order
him hanged on the spot, his belongings and rank forfeit to his accuser as the law states. I
have spoken.тАЭ That with another scowl for the High Inquisitor. Maybe there really was
hatred there.

Trom bowed formally once more. тАЬYou have informed him yourself, my Lord Captain
Commander. Damodred?тАЭ

Galad felt cold. Not the cold of fear, but of emptiness. When Dain drunkenly let slip the
confused rumors that had come to his ears, when Byar reluctantly confirmed they were
more than rumors, rage had filled Galad, a bone-burning fire that nearly drove him
insane. He had been sure his head would explode if his heart did not burst first. Now he
was ice, drained of any emotion. He also bowed formally. Much of what he had to say
was set in the law, yet he chose the rest with care, to spare as much shame as possible to a