"Mithgar - Hel's Crucible - 02 - Into The Fire" - читать интересную книгу автора (McKiernan Dennis L)

"Radca Tain, proze wychodzic."

Still there was no response from Tain.

Bekki turned to Beau. "He does not know we are here.

"Then I'm going in," said Beau, and before anyone could stop him he scrambled under the edge.

"Tipperton," snapped Bekki. "Set arrow to bow and hold against Tain. If he makes an ill move, kill him."

"But I might hit Beau," protested Tip.

"Not so," said Phais, "for thine aim is true. And Bekki is right. Tis better to slay a madman than to lose a friend."

Hastily Tip nocked an arrow and knelt and made ready should Lord Tain try to do ill to Beau.

Bekki squatted at Tip's side.

Still Tain muttered on.

"What is he saying?"

Bekki took a deep breath. "Among his babblings he now speaks of a Dragon, Sleeth, wreaking havoc."

"One of the renegades," whispered Phais.

"Now he tells that King Enrik is dead," continued Bekki, "killed by Dragonfire."

Beau opened his medick bag and took out a small jar: a salve. He applied it to the burn on Tain's forehead. The man did not note the buccan's ministrations.

Still Bekki translated, sifting information from babble: "Again he says Enrik is dead, but adds that Lady Jolet now bears Enrik's child in her womb, a child who will be the one true heir."

Phais gasped, "Oh Adon, she was with child." Phais reached out and took Loric's hand as tears brimmed her eyes.

Bekki looked up. "He believes that all the princes of Riamon are now slain: some by Dragon, some by cold, and he deems Loden and Brandt could not escape death at the hands of the overwhelming Horde in the battle at Mineholt North." Bekki shook his head. "He does not know Lady Jolet is dead, and he speaks of the child, the prince, the king to come from her loins."

Under the barge Beau spoke softly as he wound a bandage about Tain's head, yet the counsellor babbled on.

"Again he tells of Sleeth and the ravaging of Dael and speaks ill of those who fled from the city, calling them cowards all. Pah! As if Tain himself were not a runaway coward."

Beau closed his satchel, and Tipperton gasped and pulled the arrow to the full, for Beau tugged on Tain's sleeve, trying to draw him forth from under the barge. "Watch out, Beau," called Tip, "he's likely to do you harm."

Beau looked at Tip and then back at Counsellor Tain and tugged again, saying, "My Lord Tain, we must leave now, the kingdom has need of you."

But Tain did not note the Warrow's presence and sat and rocked and keened.

Finally, shaking his head, Beau took up his satchel and came out from under.

Tip exhaled a sigh of relief and relaxed his draw.