"Julian May - Boreal Moon 01 - Conqueror's Moon" - читать интересную книгу автора (May Julian)

The prince fixed the earl marshal with a level look, saying nothing, until the veteran general looked away, his jaw clenched and his brow like thunder.

тАЬHear His Grace out, Parli,тАЭ urged Vanguard. тАЬItтАЩs true there are arcane elements in his plan, but no invoking of the Beaconfolk or anything else an honest warrior could scruple at.
Carry on, Godson.тАЭ

тАЬVery well,тАЭ said the prince. тАЬAs you know, the three WolfтАЩs Breath years have by no means left our own land of Cathra untouched. Our fields have produced significantly less
grain. Our exports to Tarn, our favoredтАФand wealthyтАФtrading partner, left almost nothing for Didion. That nation has been forced to import foodstuffs from the Continent.тАЭ

тАЬAnd the required coin of payment,тАЭ said Count Norval Swanwick impatiently, тАЬis Didionite warships. Yes, yes, and all of us know what use Foraile and Stippen might make of
them. Your Grace isnтАЩt the only prince harking back to BazekoyтАЩs days of glorious conquest. The emperor was, after all, a Forailian by birth.тАЭ

тАЬIt was to squelch such harkings,тАЭ Conrig said, тАЬthat I pressed for the Edict of Sovereignty.тАЭ And he quoted from memory. тАЬ тАШFor the benefit and security of all Blenholme, and to
thwart those Continental opportunists who might think to take advantage of the current natural disaster afflicting our island, the Kingdom of Blencathra extends its merciful hand to
the suffering people of its neighbor, Blendidion, and vouchsafes it prompt paternal succor and relief, as Blendidion acknowledges vassalage in the new, benevolent Sovereignty of
High Blenholme, and accepts Olmigon Wincantor as its Liege Lord.тАЩтАЭ

тАЬBut they didnтАЩt, did they?тАЭ Viscount Skellhaven pointed out, with sour satisfaction. тАЬNot without a Cathran army and a train of grain wagons coming at them over Great Pass along
with your precious Edict.тАЭ

Even though he had ridden into Castle Vanguard on horseback like all the others, he wore salt-stained seaboots, the wide pantaloons favored by sailors, and a silk scarf tying back his
long hair. His attire was of good quality but shabby, as if to reinforce his perennial pose of being ill-used and unappreciated by the Crown.

Beorbrook said, тАЬWe all know how the King of Didion responded to CathraтАЩs declaration of Sovereignty. He killed our people and stuck their heads on pikes above Mallmouth
Bridge for the crows and seagulls to eat, and fed their poor bodies to the crabs.тАЭ The earl marshal tossed off the remainder of his wine, and his son Olvan hastened to bring more, then
served the few others who lifted their cups with all that was left in the last bottle.

тАЬIt was six months ago that my sons and the others died,тАЭ Beorbrook went on. тАЬThe CrownтАЩs blockade of Didion isnтАЩt workingтАФno offense, Skellhaven!тАФ because thereтАЩs too much
water to cover and the bastards are better sailors than we are. Now that Achardus knows for sure weтАЩre out to topple him, you can be sure that heтАЩll be on the lookout for a land
invasion as well. I can assure Your Grace that the Didionite mountain fortresses beyond Great Pass are manned and alert, in spite of the terrible conditions prevailing in their
lowlands. If need be, King Achardus will rally the timberlords from Firedrake Water. Their thanes and stump-jumpers fill their bellies with venison and wildfowl rather than dearly
priced bread, and theyтАЩre in fighting trim despite the WolfтАЩs Breath. ItтАЩs only in the valley of the River Malle and in the large coastal cities that folk are starving. Now, it seems to me
that weтАЩve already missed our best opportunity to strike at Didion. We should have been poised to come at them from both sea and land if they refused to accept the Edict of
Sovereignty.тАЭ

тАЬThe KingтАЩs Grace deemed such a course too expensive,тАЭ Conrig said, smiling without humor.

тАЬOf course he did,тАЭ Skellhaven said bitterly. тАЬSame reason Ingo and me never get the brass we need to do a proper job patrolling the northern sealanes! The king wonтАЩt raise taxes on
the rich merchants and trader-lords who curry his favor.тАЭ

Count Norval Swanwick climbed to his feet. VanguardтАЩs son and heir was an experienced battle-leader who had often fought at the side of the earl marshal, defending both Great
Pass and the Wold Road to Tarn. тАЬMay I speak, my prince?тАЭ

тАЬPlease do, my Lord Swanwick. All of us know that you and your valiant brothers have fought many a skirmish against Didionite robber-barons and Green Men. I have great respect
for your opinion.тАЭ

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Julian, May - Boreal Moon 01 - Conqueror's Moon

тАЬHereтАЩs what IтАЩm afraid will happen if we invade Didion by land: At the first hint that weтАЩre on the move, their arcane talents as well as their best fighters will rush to meet us at