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

тАЬAny Didionite windvoices along our line of march to Redfern will be silenced before our arrival,тАЭ said Prince Conrig. тАЬAnd so will those at the castle.тАЭ

тАЬAhтАжтАЭ A soft sound from many throats.

тАЬHowever, it will be up to us to make certain that no ordinary foemen escape and give warning in a commonplace manner. When we leave Redfern, weтАЩll move like ghosts through
the mist, down from the mountains to the Coast Highway leading to the capital. WeтАЩll cross over the great Mallmouth BridgeтАФits gate will be opened for us by our magical allyтАФ
and when we reach the inner city weтАЩll set selected parts of it afire as a distraction, using tarnblaze bombshells that each one of us will carry. A portion of our force under Lords
Skellhaven and Holmrangel will press toward the quay, where theyтАЩll use their nautical expertise to seize or destroy whatever ships are tied up there or moored in the harbor. The rest
of us will take the palace, capture King Achardus, his two sons, and the other royal officials, and force Didion to surrender to the Sovereignty.тАЭ

тАЬGreat God!тАЭ said old Toborgil Silverside. His sunken eyes were shining. тАЬWhat a glorious feat that would be!тАЭ

тАЬWeтАЩre to accomplish all this under cover of fog?тАЭ Munlow Ramscrest was dubious. тАЬIn a strange city notorious for its twisted maze of streets?тАЭ

Conrig inclined his head. тАЬAs IтАЩve said, we will have guides. From the summit of Breakneck Pass to the raised portcullises and open barbican gates of Holt Mallburn itself.тАЭ

Ramscrest persisted. тАЬWhat manner of guides? Creeping Mosslander wizards bearing magic lanterns?тАЭ

тАЬNay,тАЭ said the prince. тАЬI may not speak of the guides to you yet, but IтАЩm assured of their assistance. They are to meet us at the top of Breakneck Pass, and if their aspect provokes
mistrust among you, then I pledge to abandon this enterprise forthwith.тАЭ

тАЬItтАЩs magic, true enough,тАЭ said Lady Zeandrise, her mouth quirked by a roguish smile, тАЬbut not so outlandish as to put off our knights and thanes, eh, brothers? Fog, eldritch
pathfinders and gate-openers, cold steel, and hot tarnblaze! A lightning thrust into Didion, and Holt Mallburn waiting like a sleeping babeтАж Can we be sure King Achardus will be in
residence?тАЭ

тАЬOh, yes,тАЭ said Conrig dryly. тАЬHeтАЩs there now, and he has little incentive to leave his stronghold. At least itтАЩs well stocked with food and drink.тАЭ There was scattered laughter among
the council, for the gigantic Didionite king was an infamous trencherman. тАЬAs we prepare to sally forth from Castle Redfern, IтАЩll be kept informed by windspeech of the kingтАЩs
precise whereabouts, as well as that of the merchant-lords and our other special targets. My brother Vra-Stergos will accompany the expedition, as will Duke TanabyтАЩs trusted
alchymist, Vra-Doman Carmorton.тАЭ He said nothing of Snudge.

тАЬAnd will these good Brethren also use windspeech to transmit reports of our daily progress to the Conjure-King?тАЭ Skellhaven inquired archly.

Conrig paused, then spoke with reluctance. тАЬKing Linndal of Moss has nothing to do with this plan. Most of the time he is raving mad and confined to his rooms. He spends his lucid
days voicing Salka sorcerers in the Dawntide Isles, trading arcane secrets. Our Mossland collaborator is another.тАЭ

тАЬWho?тАЭ Beorbrook demanded.

тАЬHis daughter, Princess Ullanoth.тАЭ The prince took up his cup and sipped from it, but his eyes did not waver from the skeptical face of the earl marshal.

тАЬAnd what does this benevolent lady ask in exchange for her good offices?тАЭ

тАЬThat Moss receive First Vassal status in the Sovereignty, with a reasonable guerdon paid annually, and that we support her claim to the throne of Moss above that of her younger
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Julian, May - Boreal Moon 01 - Conqueror's Moon

brother, Beynor.тАЭ

тАЬIt seems a modest enough boon,тАЭ Lady Zeandrise remarked. She frowned, then added, тАЬPerhaps too modest.тАЭ

Beorbrook addressed Vanguard. тАЬDid you know of this, Tanaby? Your royal godson consorting with a Mosslander witch?тАЭ