"Sharon K. Penman - Here Be Dragons" - читать интересную книгу автора (Penman Sharon K)

"Mama?"
They both turned back toward the bed. Marared leaned down, smiled at her son.
"Are you not sleepy yet, sweeting?"
"Yes . . ." The day's trauma and the medicinal wine had loosened Llewelyn's
tongue at last. "Mama, I do hate it here. So does Adda. I'D1 so homesick,
Mama. I miss Rhys and Ednyved and Uncle Gruffyd^ and"
"Ah, Llewelyn ..." Marared's eyes filled with tears.
"Please, Mama, can we not go back where we belong? Can we not go home?"
"You will, lad," Morgan said quietly. "I promise you that the daj shall come
when you will."
Llewelyn stared up at him and then turned his head aside on "1 pillow. "You
mean we have to stay here for now."
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"Yes . ror now." Morgan stepped back, stood looking down at boy- "But y┬░u
wi^ *>┬░ kack to Wales, Llewelyn. You will go home."
SHROPSHIRE, ENGLAND
]unc 1187
Unri
J.HINK you, then, that there'll be war?"
Hugh Corbet hesitated. It was no easy thing to be a younger brother in an age
in which all passed by law to a man's eldest son. But Hugh had been luckier
than most. His was a family of considerable wealth; the Corbets held lands not
only in Shropshire, but in Normandy, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and Wales.
Robert Corbet had inherited the barony of Caus, but there were manors to spare
for Hugh, too, and his relationship with his brother was blessedly free of the
poisonous jealousy that bred such strife between a fortunate firstborn and his
landless siblings.
Much of the time they were in harmony, working in tandem for the common Corbet
good. But in this they were at odds. In this they were a House divided, much
like the rival royal masters they served, for Robert's loyalties lay with
Richard, King Henry's eldest son and heir, and Hugh's sympathies went out to
the beleaguered, aging King.
Hugh was silent, considering Robert's grim query. "I would hope to God it will
not come to that, Rob," he said at last. "Father against
sonthat is the ugliest of all feuds; it goes against the natural order of
things."
nev R hbert t0┬░k thiS 3S a Veiled Jab at Richard'the unfilial son. "It would
as IT ┬гave,,come to this if Henry would but formally recognize Richard
defend"8^ had to concede the truth of that. Finding himself forced to the
indefensible, he at once took the offensive, saying sharply,
20
"Be that as it may, Richard had no right to ally himself with the King
Francenot against his own sire!"
"You know damned well why he felt that need, Hugh! With the' brother Geoffrey
dead in France last summer, that does leave but Richard and John in line for
the succession, and Richard knows all ton well that his father loves him not.
He knows, too, that Henry has eve favored John. What else can Richard think,
except that his father means to raise John up to the place that is rightfully
his?"
"And a right fine fear that be," Hugh scoffed, "one to cover a multitude of