"Lawhead, Stephen - Albion 02 - The Silver Hand" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lawhead Stephen)

He made to turn away, but I caught his shoulder and held him fast.

"Hear me, Liew," I said earnestly.

"You say that Siawn has spread a deadly poison here. If that is true,
then stop him. I am offering you the chance to do that."

3
Tan n'Righ

"Long in my grave and cold I will be," I vowed, "before ever I give the
kingship of my people to that hissing viper Meldron. If he were a
snake, I would lop off his head and throw his writhing body into the
fire pit

"But Meldron has made himself king."

"He is not the king! Only sovereignty can make a man king. And only a
true hard can confer sovereignty," I declared.

"I alone hold the kingship of Prydain. And it is mine to give as I
choose. That is the ancient and honorable way."

We sat alone on the hillside below ruined Sycharth, talking quietly. I
thought it best to speak in secret, away from Meidron's eyes and ears,
and I knew no one would intrude so near to the devastated stronghold.

Liew shook his head slowly.

"I do not like it, Tegid. Do you expect Meidron just to step aside
while you hand the crown to someone else? He would have killed us
tonight if the people had not prevented him."

"And they will prevent him again. You saw how it was; they will not
let Meldron harm you. They esteem you highly, Liew. They respect you.
Given a choice between you and Meldron, they will follow you."

Llew was silent for a long time. Then he said, "Very well, Tegid. I
will do it." Before I could reply, he raised a finger and quickly
added, "But only until my task here is accomplished. Then you will
have to choose someone else to be your king."

"Agreed," I said quickly.

"I mean it, Tegid! I will be king only until I can find a way to get
Simon back to the other side where he belongs. Do you understand?"

"I understand."