"Shirley Meier & S. M. Stirling - Fifth Millenium 05 - Shadow's Son" - читать интересную книгу автора (Meier Shirley)

тАЬAs our dear friend Nikolakiaj says, I do indeed have news,тАЭ the bard said happily. тАЬUnexpected,
indeed unprecedented news. News beyond your wildest conceptions, and you will see I do not
exaggerate. Good Nikolakiaj said I would give news and song, as is customary. But this information so
inspired me, dear listeners, that you will have the rare good fortune to hear both in one.тАЭ Suddenly his
face sobered and his voice dropped. тАЬTragic and pathetic news, I bring. In fitting with its somber nature,
I must adopt a somber mien ...тАЭ Anticipatory snickers echoed, including one from ShkaiтАЩra. тАЬMy balladтАЩs
title: A Lament for the Empire of Arko.тАЭ
 More snickers. ShkaiтАЩra grinned like a wolf. Megan peeked at the two Arkans, who looked as if
theyтАЩd rather not hear this, more inclined to hide behind their tankards. The bard strummed a rich cord,
and sang.

Pity the day when the Eagle of Arko
First cast its eye on Yeola-eтАЩs plains.
When battle is finished twixt Eagle and Circle,
The world will count up the losses and gains.
Long long ago, a great sage of Yeola-e
Prophesied gravely, that this century,
His people, whoтАЩd lived so content in their borders
The conquerors of a great nation would be.
Now storming to Kaina, led hard by Chevenga,
TheyтАЩd won to the edge of the lands bought so dear.
New risen from shackles, and calling for justice,
They cried to each other, тАЬWhy should we stop here?тАЭ
тАЬWe know what it is, to be conquered by Arko.
The world is not safe, while the Eagle still flies.
Now that it runs, we should chase it down flaming
For our land burned, our loves raped, our childrenтАЩs death-cries.тАЭ
Debate raged like fire, all over Yeola-e
Until in Assembly, a Servant asked this:
тАЬOur precious Chevenga, no one has worse suffered
By Arkans than you have. What is it you wish?тАЭ
тАЬWhat wishes a demarch,тАЭ he said, тАЬdoes not matter.тАЭ
Refusing to answer, though uproar they made.
EтАЩen strode from Assembly, was dragged back and finтАЩly
On pain of impeachment, replied, тАЬTo invade.тАЭ
So chalk went the vote, to strike down the great Eagle.
Four ten-thousands heed the InvincibleтАЩs callтАФ
Eyes burning, the Circle comes threshing with longswords
To cut through the rot, and so Arko will fall.
Alas, oh, alas, for the Empire, and Kurkas,
Whose death-knell has tolled after so many years
The worldтАЩs heart will bleed as the City falls crashing
So loud our lamenting, so soulful our tears ...

The bard struck the chord with one hand, and with the other pulled out a large handkerchief of a
scarlet color strikingly similar to Arkan warshipsтАЩ sail-cloth, to dab his cheek with a loud sniffle.
Pity the day when the Eagle of Arko
First cast its eye on Yeola-eтАЩs plains.
When the battle is finished twixt Eagle and Circle.
The world will count up the losses and gains.