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

УWhen I put myself in peril at my loverТs behest, I extracted a promise from him: that if anything happened to me, heТd defend Moss. I think heТs able to do this more effectively than I, since IТm so weakened. Therefore, I agree to join your side of the ConflictЕ What must I do?Ф
Look upon me.
УOh, Moon Mother! YouТre a Salka!Ф
No. IТm the One Denied the Sky. One of those you call the Great Lights. But since my essence is incorporeal, it cannot suffer. After the Old Conflict was lost, the victorious Pain-Eaters would have destroyed all the Likeminded if I had not agreed to this base transformation. ItТs right that I suffer in a Salka body, since in my heedless pride I used them, more than all the other entities, as pieces in my game.
УSource, I begin to understand. But donТt tell me any more. I canТt bear it. lust take me.Ф
It seemed to swim through the lucent transparency towards her, an apparition as dark as the spaces between the stars, lacking eyes and mouth, both of its coiling limbs cuffed and chained in dull-glowing sapphire links. She extended her hand and touched it.
Immediately she was gone, and the tiny green sphere began to fall. It splashed into the ocean of pain and drifted down towards the abyss of ice, until a black tentacle caught it up and bore it to safety.
==========
Maudrayne came to her senses after Rusgann and Dyfrig woke, so her first awareness was of familiar voices, the boy asking bewildered questions and the servingwoman doing her best to reassure him. She opened her eyes and saw a canvas roof overhead, held up by a curved framework. Heard clopping hooves. Smelled straw and equine sweat and musty wool. Felt movement.
Rusgann was saying, УWeТre riding in a covered cart all laced up tight so we canТt peek outside. But thereТs nothing to be afraid of, Dyfi. Your mother and I wonТt let anything happen to you.Ф
УThe bumps make my stomach feel queer,Ф the boy fretted. УI need to pee, too.Ф
A manТs deep voice said, УWeТll stop in a few minutes.Ф
УWhoТs that?Ф the child said. His eyes were wide with fear.
УI think itТs our old friend, Red Ansel,Ф Rusgann said dryly. She raised her voice. УMaster shaman! Did you hear what the lad said? Stop this wagon at once!Ф
Maudrayne pulled herself up to a sitting position, but almost at once was knocked down again as the wagon gave a sudden lurch and began to bounce more violently. She groaned, and Dyfrig cried out, УYouТre hurting my mama!Ф
УHang on,Ф Ansel called out. УWeТre almost to a smoother place.Ф
They jounced along for a few more minutes, then came to a stop. Those inside the covered wagon heard high-pitched whinnying and the stamping of hooves. Crunching footsteps came around to the rear of the wagon and someone began to undo the fastenings. A moment later, the canvas flaps were pulled aside and AnselТs ruddy face greeted them with its usual broad smile. He held out a hand to Dyfrig.
УYouТd better come first, lad, and weТll see to your needs. Put your shoes on. The ground has sharp bits of glassy stuff here and there. Ladies, take your time alighting.Ф
The boy clambered out and he and the shaman promptly disappeared from sight, leaving the princess and her maid crouching amidst a tangled nest of blankets and bundles, staring in astonishment at the strange landscape. Most of the surface of the ground was tumbled, pitted rockЧcindery scoria and solidified dark lava. The irregular areas were interspersed with broad drifts of windblown, glittering black sand, unmarked save for the fresh ruts of their wagon-wheels and the dimpled impressions of small hooves. Here and there, pockets of lighter-colored soil supported wiry shrubs and wildflowers. Two enormous volcanos dominated the far horizon behind the wagon, emitting thin white plumes of vapor.
Maudrayne murmured, УMornash and Mount Donor?Е Great God of the Heights and Depths! Could we have come so far east? How long have we slept?Ф She climbed out of the wagon-bed, followed by Rusgann.
УMadam, have you any idea where we are?Ф the maid whispered. An uncanny silence surrounded them.
Maudrayne turned slowly about. The wagon, which she had remembered being drawn by two mules at the Northkeep waterfront, was now hitched to a team of four rough-coated ponies that drooped in their traces. A league or so onward the black wasteland came to an abrupt end in a row of hills, their lower slopes clothed in green and their summits nearly bare. The tallest, towards which the wagon seemed to be heading, was a nearly perfect dome of pale grey rock.
УIТve never been here,Ф Maudrayne said, Уbut I believe weТve nearly crossed Tarn from west to east. Behind us are the volcanos and goldfields of my nationТs interior. This black desert is part of the Lavalands, a desolate wilderness where nothing human can survive. Beyond those strange-looking hills lies the sea, the Icebear Channel that separates High Blenholme from the Barren Lands.Ф
Rusgann was shading her eyes from the hazy sun, studying the hills. УThereТs something man-made on that highest baldtop. Like a little castle.Ф
AnselТs voice said, УItТs Skullbone Peel, our destination. It takes its name from the rounded shape of the hill.Ф
The two women turned about to find him and Dyfrig returning to the wagon from behind an upthrust monolith of reddish rock. УWhy?Ф the princess asked in a harsh tone. УWhy in GodТs name have you brought us here, to one of the most isolated and untenanted parts of Tarn?Ф
УFor your safekeeping,Ф the shaman said to her. He lifted the little prince into the wagon, saying, УWait inside for a few minutes, then IТll show you something interesting.Ф
УBut IТm hungry!Ф Dyfrig protested, thrusting his head from between the canvas curtains. He would have climbed out again, but Ansel laid his hand atop his tawny curls.
УRest, child, until I summon you.Ф The boyТs eyes went blank and he withdrew without another sound.
Maudrayne addressed the shaman in a low, furious voice. УAnd will you force Rusgann and me to rest again as well? Why not keep all of us sunk permanently in magical sleep? It would be so much more convenient for your purposes.Ф
УBut not good for your health,Ф he said without heat. УYour well-being is very important to me, dear Maudie.Ф
УDrop your pretence of solicitude for our welfare, Ansel Pikan! That was never your true motive for hiding my son and me. For if that were so, you would have no good reason to prevent us from taking refuge with my brother Liscanor or with my dear uncle, the High Sealord Sernin.Ф
Ansel said, УIf Conrig found you and Dyfrig, he would have you killed. And that is the truth.Ф
УBut not the entire truth!Ф she raged. УMy son overheard you and the sea-hag talking one day, and even though he was unable to understand, he remembered your words well enough to repeat them to me: СWe must make certain he remains king. HeТs the only one strong enough to hold them back. Without him, we have no hope of liberating the Source.ТФ
УIТm sorry you learned of this. The matter is complicated andЧФ
УAnd you believe me too simpleminded to understand? I think not! YouТve kept me and my son prisoners for ConrigТs sake, not ours. You seek to protect him from melФ
УMy love for you dictated my actions. I would not have the king harm you, but I couldnТt allow you to endanger his Sovereignty, either.Ф
УYour precious SourceЧwhoever or whatever it isЧcommands your first loyalty. Protecting this Source is your paramount concern. You believe that Conrig Ironcrown is the only one strong enough to defeat the SourceТs enemies in battle, so you shield him from my righteous retribution. Admit it!Ф
He inclined his head without a word.
УWho is the Source?Ф she demanded.
УA force for good. ThatТs all I may tell you now.Ф
УWho are its enemies?Ф
УThere are two, who threaten both my master and all of humankind who dwell upon this island. Neither enemy is human. The one is incorporeal and can only be influenced indirectly by the might of High King Conrig. The second enemy is all too material, and Conrig is the only sure bulwark against it. I speak of the Salka.Ф
Maudrayne was incredulous. УThose miserable amphibian monsters? They were vanquished and decimated by Emperor Bazekoy over a thousand years ago! The few that survive hide in the fens of Moss and in distant islands of the eastern sea. They are no threatЧФ
УThey were not, so long as they remained dispirited and bereft of hope. But their mental outlook has changed. Someone has offered them a powerful new weapon that bids fair to restore their ascendance. And their numbers are not few. Over the centuries their population has grown until once again they represent a formidable menace. As yet, only the Salka of the Dawntide Isles have been roused from their ancient lethargy. But if their more numerous Moss-dwelling kin were inspired by the battle success of the DawntidersЕФ
Rusgann had been listening intently, and now with her usual forthright-ness she did not hesitate to interrupt the shaman. УYou talked about two inhuman forces. WhoТs the second?Ф
УYou call them the Beaconfolk,Ф Ansel replied. УAnd because you are a native of Cathra, youТve long since forgotten their power and their malignant nature, relegating them to legend. But the Great Lights are real, and their evil threatens all parts of the world where the aurora shines regularly in the sky.Ф
Rusgann gave a guffaw of disbelief, but the princess silenced her and addressed the shaman. УI am no Cathran. IТm a daughter of Tarn, and perhaps willing to concede that you may be telling the truth. I say perhaps, because your word on this weighty matter is no longer enough to sway my conscience. I was greatly wronged by Conrig Wincantor. My sonТs injury is greater, since he is being denied his royal birthright. If IТm to postpone my demand for justice, you must convince me that there is good reason.Ф
УI can but try. There are other calls on my time, but from time to time I can visit you in your new residenceЧФ
УPrison!Ф