"J. Robert King - Invasion Cycle 01 - Invasion" - читать интересную книгу автора (King Robert J)

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 Invasion

Turning angrily, the old man pushed at the side of the
ship. "Watch your wagon, good sir! Give me room!"
Grim-faced soldiers marched up in a line behind the
man. Boots cracked smartly against the stones. Cocked
crossbows set an uneasy whine in the air.
The blind seer turned, lips white with anger. "What is
this? You come to haul me away? My warnings are
disbelieved? The truth teller goes to prison?" He held out
his arms in melodramatic surrender.
The captain of the guard glared past the madman to the
rail of the airship. "Ho, there! Give account! Who are you,
and what is this ... thing? What is your purpose?"
A wry laugh came from above. Gerrard set one booted
foot on the rail, leaned on his knee, and smiled. "I am
Gerrard Capashen, scion of the first house." He rolled up
his left sleeve, displaying the Capashen tattooтАФa tower
with seven windows. "I learned to fight there, in the lower
yard, and I learned to tryst there, in the grotto. This is
Weatherlight, ancient airship and Benalia's greatest
defender. My purpose is to defend you in the coming war."
"Defend us? Against whom?" asked the guard captain.
"The monsters from the skies!" the blind man cried. "I
have told you over and over, but you will not believe."
"Shut up, old man," the guard advised.
Gerrard snorted. "He's right, in fact. This blind man
does see something. Yes, there is an invasion underwayтАФ
beasts falling on us from the skies. Return to your homes.
Arm yourselves. Every house must become a fortification,
every person a warrior."
The guard captain spat into the dirt. He glanced at the
blind seer. "Is this sky-flying lunatic your son?"
Patting Weatherlight's hull, the wizened man said,
"Well, why not?"



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 J. Robert King

"I demand an audience with the chief of the Capashen
Clan. I demand to address the chiefs of the seven clans."
"All right, come down here, Gerrard Capashen," the
guard captain said, motioning. "And bring your command
crew."
Gerrard called into the speaking tube, summoning his
crew. Sisay, Hanna, and the others left their posts, heading