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

He glared at me.

"Only until Siawn Hy is subdued. I understand, brother. Truly."

The tension went out of him at last.

"How do we go about this king making then?"

"There are many ways kingship may be conferred," I told him.

"I will use a way that Meldron does not know- an ancient way. I will
use the Tan n'Righ."

"King by fire?" Liew wondered.

"That sounds painful-is it?"

"No," I replied, "not if you do it right. But it is necessary that you
listen carefully and do everything exactly as I tell you."

We talked far into the night, head to head, huddled in our cloaks,
shivering, and watching the campfires below. Dawn was not far off when
we furnished.

"Now what?" asked Llew, yawning.

"We will rest now. And you will stay out of sight. Meidron must not
find an excuse to challenge you. Also, he must not become suspicious
or he will interfere. I know where you can hide."

I told him where he could sleep in seclusion, and we rose and stood
together.

"Are you certain that it can be done in one day?" Liew asked.

"One day is all I need. Leave everything to me. I will come for you,
or send someone, when allis ready."

We parted then and went our separate ways. As I walked down the
hillside to the camp my thoughts were already racing fast and far, far
ahead. Yes, there was much to be done, and it must all be done
quickly. The ceremony would take place that night!

I worked through the day-quietly, and without undue haste. I assembled
stones from the four quarters-black from the north, white from the
south, green from the west, and purple from the east. I drew water
from a fresh-running spring. I gathered the nine sacred woods: willow
from a moving stream; hazel from among the rocks; alder from the
marshes; birch from the waterfall; yew from the open place; blackthorn
from the hidden place; elm from the shady place; rowan from the hill;