"Shirley Meier & S. M. Stirling - Fifth Millenium 02 - Saber and Shadow" - читать интересную книгу автора (Meier Shirley)

Nations War faster than they did."

As a girl she had played among the bones and broken catapults in the cleared
fire zone beneath the walls of her kinfast's stronghold. "The Pensa are too
occupied with each other; they've considered it beneath their dignity to fight
outsiders since the Maleficent's day." The archpriest made a sign to avert
evil at the name. "Maailun and D'waah will fight"-She spread her hands-"but
that, however, is what the armed forces of the Tecktahate of Fehinna are for,
after all." Smyna used the formal term: Burning Righteous Sword of the Divine
Incandescence.

Flattery never hurts, she thought. Nor unction. Smear it on-the arse of the
mighty tastes of gold. Fear stabbed at her again; the mind was open to the God
of which it was a shadow. She shook herself inwardly. It was a common enough
saying, and this one was only High Priest, not the Sun-On-Earth Herself.

The priest stared over her head, as the lightning cast the room in silver.
"All those who do not believe . . . lost, lost in the darkness. The Fire that
cleanses must be brought to earth, a healing cautery."

Like the great lens in the temple dome. He could almost see the fierce point
of focus trembling in the incense laden air; almost hear the shocked
disbelieving first scream as another soul was freed to the only God.

Smyna tried to bring the conversation back to practicalities. "Radiance, there
are still those who oppose the plan. Many of the landed families are afraid
for their estates; loot is desirable, but burned crops and slaughtered workers
... they remember the last war, and the navy is more interested in the Kahab
Sea, and the new trade colonies across the Lannic."

Peasant hardheadedness showed on the other's face. For a moment Smyna was
reminded of a formidable suspicious old farmwoman at market, shaking her fist
over piled yams and raisins, refusing to be taken in by smooth city words.

"Aye," he said. "The shiplords of the city are so inclined; higher taxes and
smaller markets disturb merchants. They seldom look beyond the swell of their
fat stomachs, and they stir the shaaids, the city-scum, to complaint over the
imposts we must have to hire troops and import metals." He stared at the
soldier. "Only in burning is there holiness. They too will have their moment
with the Flame."

Smyna Caaituh's-kin, who had hunted tigers and armed slaves for sport,
inclined her head, controlling her shudder. Fanatics disturbed her; they were
too unpredictable, and the chancellor was brilliantly so. To use him was to
grasp the knife by the blade, but there was little choice, less glory, and no
advancement in peacetime. Few of the officer corps in these days

were the heirs to great wealth; the Righteous Sword was a convenient and
honorable way of giving them a living without upsetting the delicate
matrimonial alliances that were the warp of Fehinnan politics. Plunder would