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

УLook there.Ф Scarth pointed ahead. УItТs the wall and the northern city gate. WeТre almost to Bo HernТs stable. I hope to God the goodwifeТs willing to feed us. All this scary talkТs made me peckish.Ф
Felmar chuckled. УIf weТre going to die tonight, letТs hope we can at least do it with full stomachs.Ф
УYou donТt think weТve much of a chance then?Ф
УIТm not so sure about that. You know, Scarth, we were so busy fleeing King ConrigТs men that we never had a chance to look closely at the things we stole. I think itТs high time we did, donТt you?Ф

eleven
The abrupt blast of powerful wind came out of nowhere, just as Kilian was congratulating himself on having successfully guided the cattle-boat single-handedly to the mouth of Roaring Gorge. Earlier, the unsuspecting skipper had told him about the tricky route through the gravel bars at the lake-head, and how important it was to stay in the middle of the channel.
In a light, fair breeze, Kilian had navigated well enough. But the sudden freakish blast turned the boat toward the shallows. The keel grated alarmingly on loose stones, and the five horses began to squeal with fright and pull against their ties.
He tried to correct the course with a quick thrust of the rudder and a tug on the lugsail brace, but heТd misjudged the potential contrariness of the clumsy boat in a strong wind. It yawed, charged toward the opposite side of the channel, struck a submerged rock, and slewed about wildly. The sail flapped like thunder, the deck tilted, and two of the horses were thrown down.
УFutterinС hell!Ф the alchymist cursed. The damned wind might capsize them unlessЧ
He seized a small axe from a bracket on the side of the cockpit, clambered onto the angled deck, clawed his way toward the mast, and severed the halyard ropes. The lugsail, yard, and rigging tumbled down, causing further panic among the horses, but at least the wind no long threatened to push them over and the deck came level again. Avoiding flying hooves, he made his way to the bow and heaved out both anchors. One of the chains went taut and the boat swung about. With a piercing squawk, the hull came free of the rock and scraped along more gently into gravelly shoals before grounding in about three feet of water. As suddenly as it had risen, the gale fell off.
The horses calmed, and so did the alchymist. Amazingly, none of the animals had been injured by the falling yard. The ones that had lost their footing rose amidst the tangle of canvas and rope and stood trembling and blowing. Several pieces of baggage had tumbled from the cabin roof onto the deck, but the four Brothers sleeping up there appeared to be safe. With groans and a few muttered oaths, they threw off the pieces of tarred cloth that had sheltered them from the elements and stared wide-eyed at Kilian.
УStop gawking,Ф he ordered. УPull yourselves together, get down here on deck, and give me a hand with this mess. WeТve arrived.Ф
УWhat happened?Ф Raldo mumbled in bewilderment. The impact had rolled him like a human ball, crushing him against the row of saddles.
УWhy are we still so far out in the water?Ф Niavar wanted to know. УI thought the skipper was going to bring the boat close to shore.Ф
УWhere is the skipper?Ф Cleaton asked. УAnd the rest of the crew?Ф
Young Garon surveyed the bleak panorama of encompassing cliffs, the Whitewater of the Elk River rushing from the gorge mouth, the stony beach, and the weeping grey sky. He knew very well that their vessel had gone aground and was unlikely to move again, and even entertained suspicions about the missing boatmen. Shaking his head, he silently started down the ladder. After a few minutes, the others followed. Raldo came last, after pulling his jerkin closed and buttoning it. He never noticed that the iron gammadion and chain had fallen from his pocket and draped itself inconspicuously around one of the roof stanchions.
УI regret to tell you that our crew deserted us during the night,Ф Kilian said.
Three of the Brothers reacted with astonishment. УBut why would they do that?Ф Niavar asked.
Kilian said, УLate yesterday, the captain attempted to back out of our agreement to land in the vicinity of Roaring Gorge. He claimed it was too hazardous and told me he intended to put in at Elktor Quay instead. Its lights were visible in the mist by then, over on the eastern shore. Naturally I told him it was out of the question. He demanded a huge sum of money to fulfill his part of the bargain. I realize now that he was all but asking me to purchase his boat outright. When he remained adamant, I finally agreed and turned over to him almost all of the gold I received from Queen Cataldis. Then I settled down in the cockpit with him to make certain that he kept his promise. Unfortunately, I fell asleep. When I woke, I discovered that the tiller was lashed and the captain and his men were missing. They seem to have gone away in those two coracles that were fastened on either side of the deckhouse. We were only a league or two away from land.Ф
Garon regarded the alchymist with frank incredulity. УAnd so you just carried on through the night, sailing the boat slick as a whistle all by yourself?Ф
УNo.Ф KilianТs patrician face was like granite. He stepped close to the young Brother so that their eyes locked, and forced him against the rail. УI muddled through with considerable incompetence, if you must know. Even though IТd done my best to learn how the boat was driven, I ultimately made a hash of matters and piled us up on a gravel bar. But weТre alive, our horses have survived, the boat doesnТt seem to be sinking, and all of our equipment is safe. WeТll have to wade ashore, but at least weТre on the proper side of the Elk River. Your sheep path should be somewhere up that steep slope to the right.Ф
He stepped back, to GaronТs evident relief. УYes, I suppose it is. WeТll find a way to it somehow. Maybe by backtracking down the shore.Ф
The alchymist nodded, satisfied that he was once again in control. УI donТt know the hour, but it canТt be too late in the day. It looks like the rain will continue, so we may not reach the cave before owl-light. But letТs give it our best try. Before we disembark, weТll feed the horses and ourselves. Raldo, will you please build a fire in the deckhouse stove?Ф
УCertainly, Lord Kilian,Ф said the fat man. In a half daze, he shuffled into the cabin, wondering whether the horrifying events he had witnessed earlier might have been some sort of nightmare.
Then he saw rusty spots still staining the damp floor around the woodrack.
He stood immobile, feeling the pulse pound in his temples, unable to breathe, unable to take his eyes from the telltale stains. They were more brownish than scarlet, and might have been caused by anything. Very probably the other Brothers would never even notice them. If he pointed them out, who would believe his explanation?
Repressing a shudder, he stacked a few bits of kindling in the stoveТs fire-box, struck a light with his talent, and watched while the little flames reluctantly took hold.
==========
Sir Gavlok Whitfell was a man of unusually sensitive temperament, and he was becoming deeply concerned about Deveron Austrey. The party had just ridden out of the lakeside village of Badgerhead, about fifty leagues south of Elktor, where the road made a wide detour inland in order to avoid a great swamp. All of the members of the group were still tired, having eked out only four hoursТ sleep; but Deveron seemed hovering on the brink of collapse.
The second time that his friend nearly fell out of the saddle, Gavlok took hold of his bridle and slowed both horses, telling the others to ride on ahead. When they were beyond hearing, he said, УDeveron, I know that somethingТs very wrong with you. YouТre in much worse shape than the rest of us, for no reason that I can fathom. Have you taken sick? If so, weТll turn back and find you a bed in the last villageЧФ
Snudge took a deep breath. He could no longer avoid the issue. If the two of them were to ride in close company for weeks, on a quest involving heavy use of his talent, Gavlok would have to be informed of the toll that even ordinary magic could take upon the human mind and body.
УAll right, IТll confess. Vra-Mattis will have to know, too, I suppose. I was foolish to think I could keep it hidden.Ф
УFor the love of God, manЧwhat is it?Ф The young knightТs lean features were drawn with anxiety.
Snudge spoke in a low, hurried monotone. УThe moonstone named Concealer isnТt my only dangerous secret. I have another, known only to the High King, Lord Stergos, the earl marshal, and a handful of other people. IТm a wild talent, Gavlok. A secret magicker. This is what makes me so valuable to King Conrig as an intelligencer. My faculties are strong, and theyТre also largely imperceptible to other adepts such as the Zeth Brethren. This is why they never found me out and forced me to join their Order. I can perform any number of useful tricks, but the most important are supersensitive wind-speech and the ability to scry intently over extreme distances. Also, I myself am immune from being scried by other adepts. Only UllanothТs Subtle Loophole sigil can oversee me.Ф
Overwhelmed, Gavlok rode in silence, staring at the pommel of his saddle.
Snudge continued. УThe reason IТm so bloody beat is that IТve been cudgeling my brains windsearching for Brothers Felmar and Scarth since we left Pikeport. When IТm not scrying about for them, I have a go at Kilian Black-horse and his henchmen, who escaped from Zeth Abbey and are likely on their way to a meeting with the two thieves. So far, I havenТt been able to spot any of them. Finding these men is the most important thing King Conrig has ever asked of meЧalthough he may not realize what a great threat they are to him.Ф
УBut why should this be? Kilian is a vile traitor, and the fire-raisers are guilty of murder and mayhem. But how are they a danger to the High King?Ф
УWhen I told you that more moonstone sigils taking magical power from the Beaconfolk exist, I wasnТt referring to the ones owned by Ullanoth or Beynor or the Salka monsters. ThereТs another collection of sigilsЧover a hundred of the damned things, all of them inactive. They were hidden in Gala Palace, and the thieves stole them under cover of the fire. I must try to get them back before theyТre handed over to Kilian. King Conrig wants the moonstones returned to him, but I intend to do my best to destroy them. No man living should own such terrible weaponsЧeven if theyТre inactive.Ф
УItТs strange that IТve never heard of them before,Ф Gavlok said. УWhen I was Lord StergosТs armiger, I often delved into his books of sorcery. But there was no mention of moonstone sigils and their link to the Beaconfolk.Ф
УEven most of the Zeth Brethren know nothing of them. The stones were found centuries ago by an early Royal Alchymist of Cathra named Darasilo. He secretly passed them on to his successor, and so they were handed down for centuries until they came to Kilian. None of the alchymists before him tried to bring the sigils to lifeЧmaybe because they were too afraid of the Beaconfolk. Kilian had other ideas. The trove also includes some ancient books written in the Salkan language that probably describe how to activate the sigils. No modern-day Cathran is able to read those booksЧbut the Royal Family of Moss can.Ф
УBeynor,Ф Gavlok said in a flat voice.
Snudge inclined his head in weary assent. УItТs obvious that he and Kilian made a devilТs pact to share the stones and the knowledge. They bided their time after the alchymist was convicted of treason. Then Kilian sent his agents to steal the trove from its hiding place. What IТm not sure of is whether or not he might have learned the Salkan language while imprisoned in the abbey.
There are thousands of old tomes in that place, some dating nearly to the time of Bazekoy.У
УGodТs Toenails! Then Kilian might not need BeynorЧФ
УI donТt know where that Mossbelly whoreson is or what heТs up to.Ф Snudge gave a great yawn and rubbed his reddened eyes. УHe was supposed to have been cursed by the Great Lights and exiled to the Dawntide Isles, forced to live with the Salka. This is where Ullanoth thinks he still abidesЕ By the way, she apparently knows nothing of DarasiloТs Trove. Conrig kept its existence secret from her. He was afraid sheТd come after it herself. Ordinarily, moonstones canТt be scried. But UllaТs Loophole sigilЕ can oversee them if given a direct command to do soЕ We donТtЕ think thatТs happenedЕ yet.Ф
As he spoke, SnudgeТs eyes slowly closed and his head drooped lower and lower onto his breast. He caught himself with a start and an oath. УGavlokЧ can you lash me to the saddle again, as you did on Solstice Eve when I was dead drunk? If you lead my horse I can sleep until we reach Elktor. MaybeЕ be of some damned use when we get close to the mountains and start the real search.Ф
УOf course. Pull up and IТll see to it. If the armigers ask, IТll say you have a slight fever.Ф
УGood. Tell Vra-Mattis all of thisЕ DonТt tell squires, Сspecially Wil Bays-dale.Ф
УWhat about young Wil?Ф