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

I must get to Somarus before Beynor does! Kilian said to himself. He wondered where the prince was, right at this very minute. Beynor must have told him to be ready to come out of hiding immediately upon the assassination of his brother. Would Somarus be rash enough to lurk about the vicinity of Boarsden, hoping to observe the deed? And if he were hiding there with an entourage, might not one of his men be a windvoice whoТd respond to a general hail?
УWatch your foot, my lord!Ф Garon exclaimed. УThat rockТs unstable. Use the one to the right instead. Please pay closer attention to my instructions. A fall from here could result in serious injury.Ф
Kilian hastened to obey. УIТm sorry, my boy. My mind was wandering. I wonТt let it happen again.Ф
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When the discouraging news came from Lord ElktorТs adepts that evening, and it seemed likely that Kilian had made good his escape into the high country, Snudge knew he could no longer postpone his long-delayed personal report to the king. He bespoke Vra-Sulkorig, asking if Lord Stergos was strong enough to receive and transmit wind-messages.
The Keeper of Arcana replied with understandable coolness.
The Royal Alchymist may be able to hear you, Sir Deveron, but it would still tax him to bespeak you over such a long distance. I fear you II have to make do with my own humble talents.
УOh, come off it, man.Ф Snudge was too downhearted to be bothered with hurt feelings. УI need his advice on a personal matter, thatТs all. It can waitЕ Is His Grace there with you?Ф
Yes. WeТve been waiting to hear from you for a night and a day, here in the sitting room of the Royal AlchymistТs new apartment. The High King believed you would wish to consult immediately with Lord Stergos concerning the safeguarding of the recovered trove, so he wished to stay close to his brother. HeТs been conducting all his business from here. Please wait while he finishes issuing instructions to the Lord Treasurer.
УFeribor Blackhorse?Ф Snudge was taken aback. УWell, well! Nothing to do with my mission, I trust.Ф
His Grace will discuss the matter with you if he sees fit. Please wait.
Snudge relaxed in the padded chair that sat before the cold fireplace in the chamber he shared with Gavlok. The other knight was elsewhere in Elktor Castle, making arrangements for their departure on the morrow, should the High King approve it. Gavlok had forgiven Snudge for not taking him on the hunt for Scarth, but the squires Valdos and Wiltorig were still nursing their wounded pride.
Sir Deveron? If you please, I shall now relay the High KingТs words to you. His first remarks are full of colorful language expressing his resentment at your lack of courtesy. I leave them to your imagination. From here on, I give you his words verbatim: Have you recovered the Trove of Darasilo?
УTell His Grace that its fate is still uncertain. However, both of the thieves are dead. Of this I am sure. Within another day or two, I hope to learn more about the trove. It certainly has not fallen into the hands of Kilian Blackhorse or any other evil person.Ф
The king is gratified to learn that, but justifiably impatient to know where the trove is, and why youТre unable to get your hands on it. He regrets that the thieves were not taken alive so that they could be questioned, then given their just deserts. How fares the hunt for Kilian?У
УOllie ElktorТs forces chased him far up Roaring Gorge. They narrowly avoided a deadly trap the alchymist had planned. Their escape was due to the fortuitous capture of one of KilianТs henchmen, a certain RaldoЧthe former Palace Novicemaster who was called Butterball by some of the Brethren. This man was injured and his companions rather foolishly left him behindЕ and alive. He traded some very useful intelligence in return for clemency, which Count Elktor was glad to grant.У
His Grace says that Ollie has a futtering great nerve pardoning an enemy of the Crown, but under the circumstances heТll not object. What did the fellow have to say?
УFirst, Kilian and his cohorts escaped Zeth Abbey through the good offices of Abbas Waringlow. This worthy hastened the demise of his predecessor so that he could coordinate the abbeyТs windsearch efforts and ensure that Kilian and the two thieves were not found by any of the resident Brethren.Ф
The kings reply is lamentably obscene. What was WaringlowТs motive for committing treason?
УThe oldest in the world: power. Kilian taught his friend a spell that subtly coerced the ruling council of the abbey so that theyТd elect Waringlow as successor to old Noachil.Ф
His Grace notes that the new abbas will have a brief tenure. What other information did this Raldo convey?
УKilian and Beynor of Moss are in league with Prince Somarus of Didion. Beynor is on High Blenholme, but IТm not certain where. He and Kilian are plotting to assassinate Honigalus and put Somarus on the throne in his place. Unfortunately, Kilian didnТt disclose details of the scheme to underlings such as Raldo. It may be proper to warn King Honigalus of the danger.Ф
The High King will take that under advisement. Anything further?
УKilian and his cronies had their iron gammadions removed by Waringlow. I myself saw one of the discarded pendants on the boat they used in their escape. IТll leave it to you to explain the ramifications of this to His Grace. The most crucial thing is, Kilian now has the potential ability to activate moonstone sigils and use themЧwhile Beynor, who is under a curse, cannot.Ф
His Grace asks your opinion about the odds of capturing Kilian.
УI donТt think Ollie has a hoot in hell of pulling it off. I might be able to track Kilian myself if I go into the mountains. But that could take weeks, and he has an excellent guideЧa young Brother from the abbey who knows the country. Tell His Grace in the strongest terms that I would prefer to carry on with my mission to Tarn. Leave the search for Kilian in the hands of Lord Olvan.Ф
Е After consideration, King Conrig agrees. He commands you to proceed to Beorbrook Hold early on the morrow. There you will be joined by two highly experienced Mountain Swordsmen, members of Earl Marshal ParlianТs elite force, who will assist your incursion into Tarn. You will not spend the night at Beorbrook, but instead go on directly to the principal fort at Great Pass. After resting there, continue along the Wold Road with all speed. Enter Tarn by whatever route you think best.
УI understand. Is there further news of Princess Maudrayne? ItТs very important that I know which area of Tarn to concentrate my search upon.Ф
A renegade local shaman claims to know where the princess is being hidden. He may be lying. WeТre looking into the situation. If his information is plausible, weТll inform you without delay. Do you have more to say to His Grace?
УNot at this time. Apologize for my tardy report. So much was happening, and I wished to convey as complete a picture of events here as possible.Ф
The king graciously forgives you, and bids you rest well.
УTell him the same from me, Sulkorig. But for GodТs sake let me know immediately when Lord Stergos is able to speak on the wind.Ф
I will. Good luck to you, Sir Deveron.
УThanks,Ф Snudge replied tersely. He cut the windthread and sat back in his chair to recuperate. УRest well,Ф he muttered. УNot bloody likely.Ф
Then he bespoke the head windvoice at Beorbrook Hold, and told him to collect the men who had been assigned to help him. They would have to confer on the wind at some length, organizing the mission to Tarn.
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Conrig took his wife Risalla to his bed that night, and after they had enjoyed the consolation of their bodies, he did not sleep but instead rose up, put on a light robe, and invited her to join him on the balcony.
УIt would be my pleasure, husband,Ф she said.
Barefoot and wearing only a shift of delicate lawn, she took two goblets and a ewer of mead, then came out and sat with him at the wicker table where they sometimes ate breakfast in high summer. The night was clear and warm, with a great silver moon. Mercifully, a breeze from the west spared them the lingering odor of the burned cloister wing.
Conrig sipped mead for a few minutes before speaking. УI had communication with my intelligencer, Sir Deveron, earlier this evening. The pursuit of the fire-raisers has ended with their deaths. He was able to question neither man, but weТve learned that theyТre connected to a conspiracy headed by my former Royal Alchymist, Kilian Blackhorse. He was confined to Zeth Abbey but has recently escaped. HeТs presumed to be fleeing into Didion.Ф
УAh.Ф The queen waited for him to continue.
УIТve not spoken to you about this man before, Risalla, but I suppose youТve learned something of KilianТs unsavory history from the court ladies. He and the former Conjure-King of Moss, Beynor, were closely linked in a plot to kill me.Ф
УI had heard,Ф she said evenly, Уthat they also tried without success to thwart your invasion of Didion. And Beynor, at least, attempted to assist the fleet of Honigalus when he fought against your Cathran navy.Ф
УTrue,Ф he admitted, not meeting her gaze. He drank deeply from the cup and poured more mead. УYou have been a loyal and dutiful wife and a loving mother to our children. But youТre not a woman made of stone. I know that deep sorrow and resentment must remain in your heart because of my own role in the death of your mother and father, as well as DidionТs submission to the Sovereignty.Ф
УI pray for King Achardus and Queen Siry each night. But nothing can bring my parents back to life. I take what consolation I can from the knowledge that they died with honor, fighting for our country. My older brother Honigalus surrendered to the Sovereignty and accepted you as his liege lord. So did I, because he asked it of me. I have pledged you not only my bodily fidelity but also my political allegiance. Never would I do anything to harm you or the union of nations you have forged. And may God strike me dead if I lie.Ф
She put down her goblet and extended both her hands to him. He clasped them, and she could see his dark eyes glint in the moonlight.
УI believe you,Ф he said. УAnd I trust you. So you must know what else I learned from Sir Deveron tonight. An informant he believes to be truthful claims that your brother Somarus has conspired with Kilian and Beynor to assassinate Honigalus, with a view to putting Somarus on the throne.Ф
She cried out, drawing away from him. УI donТt believe it! I know Somarus is bitter about our brotherТs surrender, for if Hon had died in battle, our nation would still be free. Or thus Somarus believes, as do many others who sympathize with him. He foments rebellion against your overlordship and attacks Cathran caravans traveling to Tarn, but heТs not a fool. If he was known to have engineered the death of Honigalus, all Didion would turn against him in revulsion. Our people are fierce and contentious, but theyТre also unshakably devoted to tradition. A regicide can never occupy our throne. The great dukes and barons will not allow it.Ф
УBut if murder could not be proved?Ф
УDidion and Cathra are no longer at war. In wartime, the succession devolves to the claimant most likely to lead the nation to victory. But in peacetime, the dead kingТs progeny succeed himЧmale and female without discrimination. If Honigalus were to die, his oldest son Onestus would inherit the crown and Queen Bryse would be named regent until his majority. Next in line are Prince Bartus and his sister Casabarela. Furthermore, if it were approved by the great lords, Queen Bryse herself might be named queen regnant. She would then have the option of marrying and declaring her husband co-monarch. This is the ancient law of our country.Ф