"Katherine Kerr - Deverry 02 - Darkspell" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kerr Katherine)

тАШYouтАЩve got to think,тАЩ she told herself. тАШAnd pray to the Goddess for her aid.тАЩ

тАШThe main bodyтАЩs pulled out,тАЩ Dagwyn said. тАШBut they left four men behind.тАЩ

тАШBastards!тАЩ Ricyn snarled. тАШTreating our lady like she was a prize horse or suchlike, there for the
stealing!тАЩ

Camlwn nodded grimly. The three of them were the last men alive from the WolfтАЩs warband, and for
days theyтАЩd been camping in the wooded hills behind the Temple of the Moon, where they could watch
over the woman that they considered their sworn lord. All three of them had served the Wolf clan from
boyhood; they were prepared to go on serving it now.

тАШHow good a watch are they standing?тАЩ Ricyn said. тАШArmed and ready for a scrap?тАЩ

тАШNot on your life.тАЩ Dagwyn paused for a grim smile. тАШWhen I snuck up on them, I saw them sitting
around in the grass, as happy as you please, and dicing with their shirt sleeves rolled up.тАЩ

тАШOh, were they now? Then letтАЩs hope that the gods make their game a nice long one.тАЩ

The free men who worked the templeтАЩs lands were extremely loyal to the high priestess, partly
because she took far less of their crops in taxes than a noble lord would have, but mostly because they
considered it an honor for them and their families to serve the Goddess. Ardda was sure, or so she told
Gweniver, that one of the men would make the long trip to Dun Deverry for her with a message.

тАШThis has got to stop! I canтАЩt order those men off land that doesnтАЩt belong to me, but cursed if IтАЩm
going to let them sit there all summer. YouтАЩre not a criminal, come here for sanctuary, but we all know
theyтАЩd murder you if they could. WeтАЩll see if this king Burcan serves can make him call his men off.тАЩ

тАШDo you think the King will listen to your petition?тАЩ Gweniver said. тАШIтАЩll wager he wants our lands in
the hands of one of his vassals.тАЩ

тАШHeтАЩd best listen! IтАЩm asking the high priestess in the Dun Deverry temple to intercede personally.тАЩ

Gweniver held the bridle of ArddaтАЩs palfrey as she mounted, adjusting her long dresses over the
sidesaddle, then walked beside her horse as she rode down to the gates. Since the four Boarsmen had
shown no inclination to try entering the temple, the gates were standing open. Gweniver and Lypilla, the
gate-keeper for the day, stood together and watched as Ardda rode out, sitting straight and defiantly in
the saddle. As she reached the road, the Boarsmen scrambled to their feet and made her deep, respectful
bows.

тАШBastards,тАЩ Gweniver muttered. TheyтАЩre keeping to every letter of the law while tearing out its heart.тАЩ

тАШJust that. I wonder if theyтАЩd even murder you.тАЩ

тАШTake me to Burcan for a forced marriage, more like. IтАЩd die first!тАЩ

They shared a troubled glance. Gweniver had known Lypilla, who was in her early forties, all her life,
just as sheтАЩd always known Ardda. They were as close to her as aunts or elder sisters, yet she doubted
deep in her heart if she could bear to share their ordered life. Out on the road Ardda turned round the