"Lorrah,.Jean.-.Empire.2.-.Dragonlord.of.the.Savage.Empire" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lorrah Jean)

One of the peasants stepped forward, half bowing, and looking furtively toward Lenardo, who sat numbly staring at the blood-spattered tableau.

The peasant took in Lenardo's fine clothes and the wolf s-head pendant hanging on his breast. Then he stared at the sword Lenardo wore and asked hesitantly, "My lord?"

Lenardo understood his confusion. If a Lord Adept could not use his magical powers, neither could he then use a sword. But I'm not a Lord Adept. I'm not fit to be a lord at all.

Before Lenardo could answer, Arkus said, "Bow to your new lord. And then speak, before his first act in this land is to punish you."

The peasants fell to their knees, and their spokesman babbled, "Oh, my lordЧbe welcome! The boy was a Reader, my lordЧyour enemy. We only killed one with the witch-sightЧ"

"Enough," Lenardo got out past the lump in his throat. He knew that they killed Readers here, had known the danger he faced when he left the empire on his quest into the savage landsЧbut that would change now. "I amЧ" he began, but Helmuth cut him off.

"This is Lenardo, your ruler. Never again will you take the law into your hands this way. You will take your problems to the magistrate Lord Lenardo appoints or to my lord himself."

The peasants were astonished, Lenardo Read. Drakonius, the Adept who had ruled this land for many years, had taken no interest in the problems of the common people, except to punish them if they did not provide enough men and food for his armies.

"Listen well to Helmuth's words," Lenardo said. "There will be a system of justice in this land." He could not yet bring himself to say "my land." "Never again will you kill someone without a proper hearing."

"But he was a Reader, my lord."

"He was notЧ"

Again Helmuth cut him off, this time recalling that he could communicate directly with Lenardo without the peasants' knowing. //They are terrified enough, my lord. Do not let rumor destroy you before you prove you can rule.// "He was not given a hearing," the old man said aloud. "You cannot be certain he was a Reader at all."

Lenardo was sweating after the hard ride, the pain, and his own nervous tension. He flung back the light cloak he had put on against the early-morning chill, exposing his right forearm, where the dragon's head, mark of the Aventine Exile, was burnt deep and permanently into his flesh. It was long-healed now, and he had grown accustomed to it, but when the peasants saw it, they gasped.

Lenardo felt their eyes devouring him in a strange combination of hope and fear. Then the man who spoke for them cried, "The white wolf and the red dragon! The boy was right. And he was a Reader, my lord, to have seen ye so."

No, the boy had not been a Reader. Lenardo knew that but accepted Helmuth's caution and didn't say it. Instead, he said, "Should you suspect anyone else of Reading, you will do him no harm. He is to be brought to me in Zendi. Is that clear?"

"Yes, my lord."

The peasants continued to grovel, waiting anxiously, and Lenardo Read that they expected to be punished for breaking a law he hadn't made yet. It was what Drakonius would have done.

Looking at the battered corpse, he asked, "Does this boy have a family?"

"Yes, my lord. A mother and a sister in the village. His father and granther died in the battle at Adigia."

"And you have destroyed the last man in that family," said Lenardo. "There can be no recompense for such a loss, but I charge all of you: Whatever needs those women haveЧplowing land, cutting wood, anything their men would have done for themЧyou are to do it. Do not think you can neglect this charge without my knowing. Arkus, ride back to the village with these men and extend my sympathy to the boy's family. Give them a measure of silver. It will not compensate, but perhaps it will ease their lives a bit."

The utter astonishment of the peasants followed Lenardo as he and Helmuth rode back toward their train. The old man said, "That was a very good move, my lord. It is exactly what the Lady Aradia would have done."

"Aradia could have stopped them before the boy was murdered," Lenardo replied bitterly.

"But she wouldn't have known it was happening at all," Helmuth pointed out.

That was true. Readers and Adepts had individual powers, but when they worked together. . . .

How life has changed in just a few short weeks!