"Boreal Moon - 02 - Ironcrown Moon" - читать интересную книгу автора (May Julian)

Torches burned on the castle landing. Two large schooners and a single tall fighting frigate, LiscanorТs beloved Gayora, were tied up there, along with a score of smaller craft. For some reason, the slip where sheТd always berthed her own sloop-rigged yacht in days gone by was empty, so she guided Scoter in with easy competence while Rusgann tossed the bowline to a boy who had been sitting on the dock, fishing, indifferent to the gentle rain. No one else was in sight. They were probably all celebrating the Solstice Day.
УCanТt tie that old tub up here,Ф the urchin said with a grimace of contempt. He was about ten years old, dressed in rags, with bare feet. He had already caught a pair of fat speckled rockfish. УSealordТs guards be along to send you packinС afore I get Тer snubbed to a cleat.Ф
УMake that line fast!Ф Maudrayne commanded in a no-nonsense voice. She rummaged in LukortТs confiscated wallet and held up a silver penny. It was probably more money than heТd seen in a year. УThen fetch the watch commander quick as you can, and this will be yours.Ф
УAye, capТn!Ф He obeyed, then ran away.
УGet Dyfrig,Ф she told the maid, and hopped onto the dock with the stern line to secure it. Her son had gone below to the boatТs tiny cabin when the rain started, and now he emerged rubbing sleep from his eyes, staring up at the immense curtain wall and looming towers of Northkeep with something akin to fear.
УWhere are we, Mama?Ф he said.
УThis is the castle where I was born. Now it belongs to my dear brother, who is your uncle Liscanor.Ф She released her bound-up skirts and stripped off the concealing headcloth. Her long auburn hair gleamed in the torchflame, spangled instantly with tiny drops of rain. For a final touch, she pulled the spectacular opal wedding necklace out of her dress and arranged it on her bosom. Then she jumped back into the boat.
УNow listen to me carefully, Dyfrig.Ф She crouched to meet his eyes. УWe must once again play the game where you pretend to be RusgannТs son. We do this because, for the time being, I donТt want anyone in the castle to know who you are.Ф
УNot even Uncle Liscanor?Ф
УNot even him. IТll reveal our secret to him later, but probably not tonight.Ф
УAll right, Mama.Ф Dyfrig looked at her askance. УAre there wicked men inside the castle, like Lukort and Vorgo?Ф
УNone so evil as those two villains,Ф she reassured him, hoping that she told the truth. УOnly men and women who talk too muchЧwho might carry tales about you if they knew you were a crown prince. Without meaning to, they might betray our great secret and put us in danger. So while weТre in the castle, you must call Rusgann СMamaТ and stay close to her always. Try not to talk to me at all. The child of a servant wouldnТt do that. But if you must, call me Сmy lady.Т Can you remember that?Ф
He smiled in a somber manner that was anything but childlike. УYes, my lady.Ф
She kissed his forehead. УWell done.Ф
УHere come the guards,Ф Rusgann muttered.
They heard the tramp of studded boots, along with the excited cries of the dockboy.
Maudrayne leapt back onto the dock. Rusgann handed up Dyfrig to her and followed more decorously.
УThere they be, just like I said!Ф The dockboy came dancing impatiently ahead of a squad of four guardsmen, then skidded to a halt with his eyes like saucers. УMollyfock! They be wimmenЧand a wee brat!Ф
The sergeant, a grey-bearded veteran, strode up to Maudrayne with his hand on the hilt of his sword. УNow then, whatТs all this? Who do you think youЧФ His mouth snapped shut like a trap. He stood silent, his gaze sweeping her from head to toe, before whispering, УMy lady Maude?Ф
Maudrayne nodded regally and smiled. УSo you remember me, Banjok. ItТs been many years since last we met, and so much has happened.Ф
The younger guards obviously had no notion who she was and stood well back, their expressions uncertain. That suited Maudrayne. She said to the sergeant, УPlease say no more at this timeЧespecially not my name.Ф She pulled her oilskin jacket closed to conceal the necklace. УOnly take us to the sealord at once. I presume he is here?Ф
Banjok looked dazed. УYes. HeТs within, with Lady Fredalayne, presiding over the Solstice Day feast for the Line Captains and their families. It was moved to the great hall because of the rain. Please follow me.Ф He turned and marched off.
The urchin thrust himself forward, blocking MaudrayneТs way. УHold on! My penny!Ф
She had to smile at his determination. УWhat is your name?Ф УEselin. Someday IСll be a Line Captain and eat with the sealord!Ф She handed the coin to him. УIt will happen, Eselin, if you make it happen.Ф Then she walked away into the rainy evening, trailed by Rusgann, Dyfrig, and the three silent guards.
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Once they were inside the walls, Banjok dismissed his men, warning them to say nothing about the odd visitors if they valued their sword-hands. After the three retired to the guardroom inside the gatehouse, the sergeant led the women and the little prince into an antechamber called the Peace Room, just off the great hall. The dinner guests who came armed left their weapons and shields there, hung on wall pegs, according to the Tarnian custom. The place had a few padded benches but no other furniture.
Banjok locked the outer door that gave onto the corridor along the wall of the central keep. УWait here. It may be a short time before the sealord is able to leave the high table.Ф Banjok opened the heavy inner door and slipped quickly into the hall, from which loud sounds of music and conviviality emanated.
Rusgann sat Dyfrig on a bench, told him to stay there, and led her mistress to the opposite side of the chamber. УNow letТs be sure I understand whatТs going on here,Ф she hissed. УDo you intend to tell your brother whatТs happened since your supposed death?Ф
УIТll say Red Ansel saved me from drowning and brought me and my beloved maid to the sea-hagТs steading to keep us safe from Conrig Wincantor, who wanted to put me under permanent house arrest in Gala so I wouldnТt make trouble. IТll tell Liscanor that I know a terrible secret about Conrig that could cost him his Sovereignty, but I wonТt reveal what it is. Not yet.Ф
УAny more than youТd tell me,Ф Rusgann grumped. УI suppose I was the pregnant one who delivered a boy-child.Ф
УOf course. Your hair is fair, like DyfrigТs. ItТll work if you can keep people from questioning him. Pretend heТs sick, or numbed by the ordeal of our escape.Ф Maudrayne shrugged out of the damp oilskin jacket and dropped it onto the stone floor. She took a comb from her belt-purse and began to work on her snarled hair.
УWhat do I say about the escape?Ф Rusgann asked. She retrieved the discarded oilskin and hung it on a peg, then took off her own.
УMore or less the exact truth. I couldnТt bear to live with the hag any longer. I planned to signal to a fisherman and bribe him to take us away. But Lukort Waterfall had already spotted me through his spyglass and come to kidnap me and hold me for ransom.Ф
УSo we killed him, and left his son Vorgo to the sea-hagТs mercies, and we sailed away, and here we areЧbashed and bloodied, but safe!Ф RusgannТs plain face shone with unholy relish.
УNot really. ThereТs still Ansel to worry about. IТll ask Liscanor to protect us from him, demand that we be allowed to stay here in Northkeep. But if Ansel wants to take me away, thereТs nothing my brother can do. He canТt go up against the High Shaman of Tarn. HeТs a brave man, but heТs afraid of Ansel. They all are.Ф
Rusgann put her finger to her lips. УKeep your voice down. YouТll frighten the boy.Ф
Dyfrig was leaning tiredly against the wall, looking very small in his oversized rain jacket. But his dark eyes were fixed on the women and he was doing his best to listen in.
УSorcery!Ф MaudrayneТs tone was full of loathing. УWhat a curse it is! But how many people are willing to believe that? Not many, when magic can give you power over other persons, or secret knowledge thatТs even more valuable. Even AnselТs been corrupted by it! I thought he was my true friend, but all along he planned to use Dyfi and me in some bloody cosmic scheme.Ф
УNow, my lady, you donТt know that for sure. You might be misjudging the man.Ф
УWeТll find out when he walks straight through the locked gatehouse door of Northkeep.Ф Maudrayne gave an ugly little laugh. УAnd I doubt weТll have long to wait. The sea-hag never stays entranced for longer than two days. SheТll bespeak Ansel when she wakes up and finds us gone, and heТll know we went to Northkeep. Where else could we go?Ф
Rusgann frowned.У СTwould be best if your brother put you aboard that fine big warship of his right away, and sent you to the High Sealord at Donorvale.
DoesnТt Lord Sernin have a passel of strong-minded wizards loyal to him? Would Ansel dare oppose all of themЧand the Tarnian council of sealords as well?У
УI donТt know.Ф Maudrayne was thoughtful. УYouТre a wise woman, Rusgann. ItТs a plan worth considering. If I told Sernin the truth about DyfrigЕФ And the greater truth about Conrig! УIТll ask Liscanor to bid his windvoice bespeak Sernin at once.Ф
Maudrayne embraced the maid, then went to sit beside Dyfrig, trying to draw him close to her. He pushed her away. УYou shouldnТt be doing that, my lady. IТm only a servant boy.Ф
Her face went white and she sprang to her feet. For the first time in months, she burst into tears.
Rusgann gathered her mistress into her arms and held her as she sobbed, and it was thus that Sealord Liscanor discovered them when he arrived a few minutes later.
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She sipped from a cup of soothing bearberry tea and huddled near the peat fire Liscanor had kindled in the little south tower sitting room, waiting for him to return with news of the windvoiced conference with Sernin Donorvale. Rain tapped on the small glazed window. The sky was almost black.
After a brief, emotional reunion with his long-lost sister in the Peace Room, Liscanor had summoned his wife, sworn her to secrecy, and entrusted Rusgann and Dyfrig to her care. Kind Lady Freda had tried to put Maudrayne to bed as well, but she refused to rest until she had conferred with her brother. The two of them slipped up a back stairway to the secluded little tower chamber where the sealord conducted his private business. There she told him what she wanted him to know. But over an hour had gone by since he left her alone, and she was becoming very worried. What could be taking so long?
When the door finally opened and she saw his face, she knew it was nothing good.