"Andre Norton - Oak, Yew, Ash & Rowan 3 - A Crown Disowned" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

"Waste of time," Tusser said gruffly. Though comparatively young to be a headman of a Bog-village,
nonetheless he appeared to be capable as well as strong. He accepted a mug of the steaming broth with
an air of indifference, but Rohan noted that he cradled it in his hands as if grateful for the warmth.
"Thank you," Rohan said, accepting his own mug. He sipped appreciatively. "Let's hope we can find, if
not a warm friendship, then at least a way to lessen animosity between us."

"Too much silly talk," Tusser said with a scowl. "I have time only for good talk, not silly. Why you want
meet with me? You just Outlander. Maybe I send to deep pools instead."

Rohan set his mug aside and put his hand on the hilt of his sword again. "I'd dispute you over that
ambition," he said mildly.

Tusser continued to scowl at him. Then he looked away, indifferent again. "No matter," he said. "Maybe
another time."

In the shadows, Zazar made a muffled sound that Rohan recognized as a stifled laugh. She scooted
forward until she had a place at the talk-fire as well. "It's plain to me that I'm going to have to serve as
go-between here." She turned to

Rohan. "Oh, I'm sure you have come here in a reasonable manner, but despite the fact that I've explained
the situation to this lout several times, he thinks he has to impress you and show you how strong he is
before he's willing to make treaty." She turned her head and fixed Tusser with a gaze that Rohan was all
too familiar with. He had been on the receiving end himself when he had been acting particularly
thickheaded. For all of Tusser's many years on Rohan, the look seemed to be affecting him in very much
the same way. "Very well, then, say it and have done. Get your stupid pride out of your system all at
once, or you can believe that I'll kick out every last spark of the talk-fire and the Bog-people can starve
or freeze or die when the invaders come. And you can be sure that your gabble of the deep pools won't
mean a thing to them. Now. What's it to be?"

Tusser shifted a little, trying to avoid Zazar's implacable stare. "I ready to treat. If terms good enough."

Rohan spoke up. "There are terrible times coming. Our landтАФ" He spread his arms, indicating not only
where they sat, but the entirety of the Bog and beyond it.

"тАФall of our land, both yours and mine, is in danger. I have heard rumors, tales, of people from the north
who long to take it from us. And so my message here is a simple one. We must make pact with each
other and stop our warring, or these invaders will find us easy picking indeed. If, however, we stand
togetherтАФ"

For the first time, Tusser appeared interested. "You think we like one village makes war on another?"

"Something like that."

"And then, when big birds come, or Outlanders come, even villages that not like each other all fight
together?"

Rohan took a deep breath of relief. "That's right. We must all fight together, when theтАФthe other
Outlanders come."

"Tusser agree. But until then, we fight. Now I go."