"Katherine Kurtz - Heirs 03 - Bastard Prince" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kurtz Katherine)

not so soon. Prince Miklos tried to win me to his cause some months ago, appealing to my Torenthi
blood. I refused, and this is the result. It has to do with the Festillic Pretender."
"A feint, then, for testin' the waters?" Corban asked, leaning heavily on Stacia to get to his
feet.
"AyeтАФand perhaps a deliberate provocation, to lure the young king out of Rhemuth. They will
know, or at least suspect, that he is not a free agent. I pray that, in meeting this new threat,
he is also able to come into his own."
"God grant it!" Corban said fervently. "But meanwhile, I must see that Eastmarch doesnae become
the Pretender's own." He bent to press his lips to his son's forehead, then thrust his bewildered
wife from him as he called to several of the Eastmarch captains.
"Attend me, men of Eastmarch. We must ride for Marley, to seek Sighere's aid. Elgin, I need
those fresh horses now. Nicholas, have ye seen to those provisions? Murray, I give ye command o'
the garrison here at Lochalyn. I'm takin' half a dozen men, in addition to Elgin. Will that leave
ye enou' tae hold the castle?"
Stacia looked thunderstruck, though Sudrey knew that Corban was only doing what he must, under
the circumstances. He was a good commander, the son she had never borne. Behind him, some of the
fittest-looking men were already mounting up again, others shouting answers to his questions.
"But, ye cannae just leave!" Stacia wailed. "What about my da? What about our bairn? What about
me?тАЭ
"Mo r├╣n, my heart, your da is dead. I share yer grief, but I cannae change fate." He turned
aside to nod gruff thanks as a man brought up a fresh horse, setting foot to stirrup and springing
up into the saddle. The animal was fractious, and nearly unseated him as another man offered him
the flapping Eastmarch banner.
"ButтАФthat's my father's banner!" Stacia gasped, clutching her son closer and barely avoiding
the horse's hooves as her husband fought his mount and deftly footed the banner's staff at his
stirrup.
"Stacia, my daurlin', have ye no been listenin'?" Corban said. "This is your banner, now that
yer father is dead. 'Tis you who are Countess of Eastmarch. An' that makes me Earl of Eastmarch,
so 'tis also my banner. An' one day, if we all live through this, it will be his banner." He
jerked his bearded chin toward their now squalling son, then cast a beseeching look at his wife's


file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/HC03%20Bastard%20Prince.txt (5 of 194) [10/15/2004 2:34:36 PM]
 file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/HC03%20Bastard%20Prince.txt

mother.
"My lady, I beg ye to make her understand. I cannae delay more. See to the wounded. Bury
Hrorik. Hold this castle, howe'er best ye can. I'll bring ye help as soon as I may. Murray's
sendin' messengers on to Rhemuth to inform the king. God keep ye."
He was spurring back out the castle gates at the head of his tiny escort before either woman
could gainsay him, the bright blue and gold and silver of the Eastmarch banner fluttering boldly
above his head. Watching him go, Sudrey of Eastmarch, n├йe of Rhorau, found herself already
shifting into that calm, passionless efficiency that must be her bulwark for the next little
while, setting aside the grief that would render her useless if she let it take over.
"Jervis, please start bringing the wounded into the great hall," she said to her household
steward, turning her back on the men now carrying the long, tweed-wrapped bundle toward the
castle's chapel. "That will serve the best as infirmary, until we can get everyone taken care of.
Have the kitchen start boiling water and tell the women to gather bandages. And summon Father
Collumcille and Father Derfel and that midwife from down in the village. She may be some help. And
MurrayтАФ"