"Jean Lorrah - Empire 02 - Dragonlord of the Savage Empire" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lorrah Jean)

"I know,"'Lenardo tried to reassure him. "Helmuth, there was no plot."



"Those men swore loyalty to you," the old man said.



"True, nor did they begin this journey with the intent to turn on me. They were simply afraid and
uncertain of how well a Reader could rule. When I went dashing off the road for no apparent reason,
their worst doubts were confirmed, and that is when they decided they'd be better off without me. I Read
them, Helmuth. Believe meтАФand believe Arkus. He didn't have to save my life just now, you know."



"I did have to, my lord," Arkus said firmly. "It was my duty as your sworn man."



Helmuth wiped off his sword and sheathed it. "I'm sorry I doubted you, lad. My lord, your horse is
injured. You'd best ride one of these others. Arkus, help me put the bodies up on horses. We'll show the
others what happens to those who think they can betray my lord."



When they rejoined their followers, shock went through the soldiers at seeing their fellows dead.
Although Arkus and Helmuth told exactly what had happened, Lenardo Read the rumors that
immediately started to spread. Before they had gone five miles, he had become a brilliant leader who had
set a trap to test the loyalty of his followers. There was no resentment. Those who had had no part in the
plot against him felt themselves that much safer in having so clever a lord.
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Lenardo sighed to himself. The logic of savages. What if they knew his intention to make an alliance with
the empire? Would he ever be able to? If he earned the trust of these people, would he lose the trust of
the Readers at home?




The problem weighed heavily. It might be months before he could go home, and by then Masters Portia
and Clement, who had sent him on his mission into the savage lands, might not be willing or able to help
him. He had been sent to take Galen from the enemy. With Galen dead, he ought to go directly back to
the Aventine Empire. Portia, the Master of Masters among Readers, would then reveal to the Emperor
the plan known only to herself, Master Clement, and Torio, the brilliant young Reader who had been
Lenardo's student and to whom he had chosen to confide the plan of Readers, by Readers, to stop