"Andrew J. Offutt - Cormac 01 - The Mists of Doom" - читать интересную книгу автора (Offutt Andrew J)

No, Lugaid mac Laegair mused, gazing on the equally stern-faced opportunist Milchu, the Saints will settle
for naught less than ownership of EirrinтАФand the world. And this fanatical follower of that dead son of a wright
of the Jews...
Lugaid saw Milchu for what he was, for all his ascetic face and pretensions. In the tradition of Padraigh
himself was this man, and yet steps beyond him, for the priests had power now in Eirrin, and they were far
from averse to using it.
This weasel face seeks only personal power and influence, Lugaid mused, and all in the name of his religion.
ItтАЩs more willing this man is even than I or my uncle to set aside his moral convictions and the gentle
teachings of his god, for after all there is always their Confession to Him... and surely to Milchu mac Roigh
the achievement of the goal ever justifies the means used in its attainment! Indeed, when once man on the
ridge of the earth feels that the warm breath of his god is upon him, itтАЩs little there is he cannot justify in his
mind!
A fitting servant for Lugaid mac Laegair then, Lugaid mac Laegair thought. Once the priest had served his
purposes, the man with the ever-set lips and stern brow would easily be handled, one way or the other! For
surely I, Lugaid Ard-righ thought, am the superior of any at crafty plotting, though I be plotted against on all
sides by so many, at all times.
He was sure, in point of fact, that Milchu the priest plotted independent of him. For who did not? Were it not
for the High-kingтАЩs supremely powerful uncle Muirchetach mac ErcaтАФand my own geniusтАФLugaid would
surely have been wrested from this highest of abodes years agone. Of this he was convinced.
тАЬYe passed safely and with ease,тАЭ he said aloud, тАЬfor surely none would expect to find a priest of Rome
abroad, alurk in the oak-green robe of a druid!тАЭ
The priest tossed aside the robeтАФto the floor, and with the movement his pectoral cross of silver flashed, for
fire and candles lit the room well if fitfully. Nor did he show amusement.
тАЬItтАЩs no priest of Rome I am, son of LтАФтАЭ he began and broke off to cough. тАЬSon of Laegair, but a priest of Iosa
Chriost our SaviourтАФa priest of Eirrin, as ye be her High-king!тАЭ
With a slow blink of both grey eyes amid the disappearance of his smile, EirrinтАЩs High-king nodded.
тАЬThe ways of God are strange,тАЭ Milchu said. тАЬI but use the tools he places before me, lord King.тАЭ And he
spurned that latest tool, the druidic robe, with his well-shod foot.
тАЬAye. ItтАЩs not the psalms of your god ye were to bring me, though; but information. Sit, Milchu. And speak.тАЭ
Milchu sat, sipped, leaned forward to fix the king with a gaze from the bright round eyes of a fanatic.
тАЬInformation, aye. From Connacht.тАЭ
тАЬAh, Connacht, Connacht. Long did it supply our land with its High-kings... until I, grandson of Niall
Noiqiallach, united with the other ui-Neill and even those of Leinster, and overthrew ConnachtтАЩs power and
strangle-hold on this hill! Dead is my predecessor Ailill Molt; dead is Connachtish power.тАЭ He too leaned
forward, his hand only toying unconsciously with the design of his mugтАЩs handle. тАЬAnd doubtless Connachtish
nobles plot, and plot! Eh, Milchu? Eh,eh?тАЭ
тАЬAye, High-king. There are those in Connacht who plot.тАЭ
тАЬAh. Against the High-king of all Eirrin!тАЭ
тАЬAye, High-king. Even against yourself.тАЭ
тАЬAh.тАЭ
A glow that came not from the fire entered into LugaidтАЩs grey eyes, for so he had surmised, and with Lugaid
who dwelt ever in the shadow of his mighty uncle Mac Erca and the misty fogs of his own suspicions, to
surmise in the matter of plotting was to believe. And in truth gladness was on him for MilchuтАЩs confirming his
suspicion-become-belief, For had the priest said otherwise, then Lugaid LaegairтАЩs son must suspect him.
Which would be to disbelieve him.
And one, Lugaid thought, must believe oneтАЩs spies... so long as one has them watched and checked now
and again.
тАЬAye,тАЭ Milchu said again. тАЬAnd plots are laid up in Ulster, too, lord King, and Munster, and even in
LeinsterтАФтАЭ
тАЬAye, aye, and in Meath and even here on Tara Hill!тАЭ The kingтАЩs eyes fair glittered. тАЬBut what of Connacht,