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

тАШMy most humble apologies, my liege, for questioning you,тАЩ he said. тАШBut I was wondering why you
took the Lady Gweniver into your warband.тАЩ

тАШAfter all her clanтАЩs done for me,тАЩ Glyn said, тАШI didnтАЩt feel I could deny her the boon she begged for.
IтАЩm sure Dannyn here can keep her from coming to any real harm, and soon enough sheтАЩll tire of riding to
war.тАЩ

тАШAh.тАЩ The old man paused, glancing at the other councillors for support. тАШWe were thinking that
perhaps she could be spared the rigors more simply, you see, by simply coercing her back to her temple,
then telling her men later.тАЩ

Dannyn pulled his jeweled dagger and threw, hitting the table directly in front of Saddar. With a gasp,
the councillor leapt back as the dagger stuck, quivering in the wood.

тАШTell me somewhat,тАЩ Dannyn remarked. тАШHow can a coward like you judge a warrior like her?тАЩ

When the King laughed, all the councillors forced out laughs, too, even Saddar.

тАШDannyn thinks highly of her spirit, good sirs,тАЩ Glyn said. тАШI trust his judgment in such matters.тАЩ

тАШNever would I question Lord Dannyn in matters of war, my liege. I was merely thinking of the
propriety of the thing.тАЩ

тАШYou can shove that up your behind,тАЩ Dannyn snapped.

тАШHold your tongue!тАЩ The King intervened sharply. тАШGood councillor, I assure you that I respect your
wisdom far more than my arrogant brother here does, but IтАЩve already given the lady my sworn word of
honor. Besides, IтАЩve invited His Holiness here to the council to explain this matter for us.тАЩ

Everyone turned to the priest, who rose with a nod of recognition all round. Like all of BelтАЩs vassals,
his head was shaved clean, and he wore a gold torque around his neck and a simple linen tunic, belted at
the waist with a bit of plain rope. From the belt hung a small golden sickle.

тАШThe King wished to know of the status of Lady GweniverтАЩs worship,тАЩ Amain said in his soft, dark
voice.

тАШItтАЩs a most legitimate one, going back to the Dawntime, when as the chronicles record women were
forced to become warriors by the cruel press of circumstance. The worship of the Moon in Her
Darktime is by no means to be confused with the rites of either Epona or AтАЩranrhodda.тАЩ At the mention
of the second name, he paused to cross his fingers in the sign of warding against witchcraft. Many of the
councillors did the same. тАШNow, truly, I was surprised to find that the knowledge of the warrior rites
remains alive, but I gather the holy ladies of the temples have kept the lore of such things intact.тАЩ
 As Amain sat back down, the men looked uneasily among themselves.

тАШSo you see, good Saddar,тАЩ Glyn said, тАШthat I canтАЩt cross the will of the Holy Goddess in this.тАЩ

тАШOf course not, my liege, and may She forgive me for ever questioning the ladyтАЩs purpose.тАЩ

The council broke up in conciliatory nods and bows all round. As Glyn strode out of the room,
Dannyn lingered just long enough to retrieve his dagger from the table. While he sheathed it, Saddar