"Jerry Pournelle - 02 - Clan and Crown" - читать интересную книгу автора (Pournelle Jerry)

тАЬI would they would bring tens of scores of their archers,тАЭ Ganton said.
тАЬPerhaps. But when they loose their gullfeathered arrows who will wear the grey
Tamaerthan plum-age? Your enemies or your friends?тАЭ His voice fell.
тАЬMajesty. Ganton, my friend. I know it must be hard.тАЭ
тАЬHard,тАЭ Ganton said. тАЬHard indeed. Even the Pro-tector fears the Lord Rick and
the star weapons. As he should. You were not there, but I was there, when the
other starman, Parsons, the renegade, made com-mon cause with Sarakos, and
turned those weapons on my armies. Men, horses, all destroyed, and the sounds of
thunder everywhere. No one safe. My Cap-tain-General died at my side, and we
five furlongs from the battle!
тАЬBut it will change,тАЭ Ganton said. тАЬI will not be in leading strings forever. Listen.тАЭ
There were more shouts below. Then a rumble. тАЬThe gates,тАЭ Morrone said. тАЬThey
open the gates, even at this late hour! Who?тАЭ
тАЬWe must go see,тАЭ Ganton said. тАЬRace you.тАЭ He leaped from the window seat and
was down half a flight of steps before Morrone could follow.
They raced down the stairs, shouting and laugh-ing.

The Lord Protector was waiting for them at the second landing. His scarred,
weatherbeaten face and the plain broadsword hung on his belt contrasted sharply
with -the rich blue and scarlet court attire and jeweled chain of office. He was
obviously far more at home in the saddle than the throne room.
Ganton caught himself in mid-stride and drew himself to full height, trying to
walk carefully and correctly, hoping that Camithon hadnтАЩt seen him run-ning.
тАЬSire,тАЭ Camithon began. By Yatar, IтАЩm for it now, Ganton thought. тАЬSire, you
should not have absented yourself for so long,тАЭ the Protector said. тАЬYou do little
honor to the lord and lady of Chelm, after they have so honored your house by
bringing forth their first child here.тАЭ

file:///C|/2590%20Sci-Fi%20and%20Fantasy%2...lle%20-%2002%20-%20Clan%20and%20Crown.html (6 of 288) [12/29/2004 12:21:43 AM]
 file:///C|/2590%20Sci-Fi%20and%20Fantasy%20E-books/Jerry%20Pournelle%20-%2002%20-%20Clan%20and%20Crown.html


Once more, Ganton thought. Tell me once more how honored I am, and I will
scream curses on your ancestors.тАЭMy house is honored indeed. But per-haps there
were practical reasons as well? If the Lady Tylara bore her child in Chelm, her
clansmen in Ta-maerthon would be slighted-and if in Tamaerthon, would not the
knights and bheromen of Chelm know insult? My house was a convenience to
them. And to the realm, of course. To the realm.тАЭ
Camithon frowned, and the great scar across his face grew dark. For a moment
Ganton was afraid. The old warrior was perfectly capable of bending his
sov-ereign over his knee-although, Ganton reassured himself, never in public.
тАЬItтАЩs true enough,тАЭ Ganton insisted.
Camithon nodded. тАЬAye. YatarтАЩs own truth. But there is such a thing as the right
words at the wrong time.тАЭ
тАЬI heard a disturbance,тАЭ Ganton said. тАЬI came to see.тАЭ
тАЬAye. A starman. Come to see Lord Rick. With a gift.тАЭ
Camithon didnтАЩt have to explain the significance of that.


The walls were thick stone crowned with battle-ments. The gates were set in