"John Maddox Roberts - Stormlands 02- The Black Shield" - читать интересную книгу автора (Roberts John Maddox)

"Dunyaz, my lady."

"Come with me." The queen and her new slaves, escorted by her guard, began to walk toward her new
palace on the hilltop.

Outside the city wall, King Gasam surveyed the disarmed mass of surrendered troops. Around him stood
his captains, hard-bitten warrior chiefs of a dozen Island races. He favored his fellow Shasinn, but he
knew that most warriors would be quicker to obey officers of their own race, so he rewarded loyalty and
ability with high rank, regardless of race or tribe.

"I've never seen such spiritless kagga," said a hard-faced Asasa chief.

A few paces away stood about three-score disarmed men, some of them truculent but all visibly
frightened. They had been stripped of their armor and stood in tunics or loincloths. Stocky,

brown-haired men for the most part, they were typical of this region. The battle had been brief. The
town's garrison had been taken by surprise when the Islander ships came ashore at dawn, discharging
waves of spear-bearing warriors, all of them carrying black shields. The soldiers had scrambled to arms
and had tried to repel the invaders but the sea wall was in ruinous condition and the tall, fearless invaders
had swarmed through. Swept from the wall, the soldiers tried to fight through the streets, but soon saw
that most of their officers had deserted. Those who had stood to their arms as far as the city's plaza laid
down their weapons when an invader chief had offered quarter.

"The king will address you!" shouted a warrior. "Pay attention if you would live!"

Gasam came forward, his spear glittering in the sun. "You men have fought bravely," the king began,
ignoring the grins on his men's faces. "I always welcome brave men into my service. I have come to the
mainland to stay, and I will conquer it as I did the Islands. Look at the men who took this city. They
stand all around you. You see men from many tribes, many islands. Some of them have risen high in my
service. Any of you may rise as high. Even for the lowest, there will be loot in abundance, for I shall place
all the cities of this land beneath my feet." He saw the soldiers' faces brighten at the prospect of loot.

"I want only willing soldiers. Those who wish to join my army, assemble over there." With his spear, he
pointed to a field to his right. By ones and twos, then by squad-sized groups, the prisoners began to
make their way to the indicated

field, sullen and fearful; but relishing the prospect of campaigning for a victorious and rapacious king.
Perhaps a hundred remained. Gasam beckoned a shaven-headed man to his side.

"Yes, my king?"

Gasam pointed at the men who did not want to fight for him. "Those men are not to be killed," he
ordered, amused at the look of relief that filled their faces. "Geld them and cut off their right hands, then
let them go." He walked into his city, cries of horror rising behind him.

Larissa approved when he told her what he had done. He found her sprawled face-down on a couch
heaped with fine cloth and pillows, her chin resting on crossed forearms. Her slave women were putting
hen chamber in order. Its former inhabitants had left it in some disorder in their haste to snatch up
valuables and flee.