"Nancy Springer - Isle 03 - The Sable Moon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Springer Nancy)

And scorned Hau Ferddas, spurned her calls, And still the sword lies gleaming, And long and fair her
shadow falls, And sweet her golden song enthralls When warrior blood falls streaming;

And seers have said that, years to dawn, If hand can bear to loose her, The mighty sword of Lyrdion
Must to the western sea begone, Or stay our fair seducer.

Mighty sword of Lyrdion, Golden blade of Lyrdion, Bloody brand of Lyrdion, Still your shadow falls."

The listeners applauded, bemused, but heartened by the names of their Kings. Gwern turned away
indifferently and headed toward the dainty foodstuffs arranged on long tables by the walls. He started to
eat ravenously, grabbing sweet┬мmeats with his grimy fingers. Meg stared at him in wonder.

"Yer brother?" she blurted to Trevyn. "But I know ye've got none."

"My brother!" Trevyn cried. "I should hope not!" He strode over to the newcomer. "Gwern, you are
making a mess."

Gwern said nothing; being Gwern, he did not care. It had taken him days of frustration to leave Laueroc,
for Alan had doubled the guard since Trevyn's escapade. At last he had made his break, bareback on
Trevyn's golden charger Rhyssiart, but it had been painfully slow going through the snow. And a
nameless, peculiar illness had struck him as suddenly as a blow, sent him reeling to a shelter to lie for
days like one wounded. At last he reached Lee, starving, dirty, ragged. Now, gazing at Meg, he forgot to
eat.

Grudgingly, Trevyn made the introduction. "Meg, this is



Gwern, myтАФmy acquaintance. Gwern, this is Megan By-the-woods."

Gwern only stared. Meg did not mind his gaze, or even think him impolite. It was like the wordless,
thoughtful look a badger might have given her.

"Gwern, you're an eyesore," Trevyn said impatiently. "Get to my room, will you, and I'll have them bring
you some things."

Somewhat to his surprise, Gwern did as he had said, and he sent up a servant with food and instructions
for a bath. Trevyn and Meg saw no more of Gwern that night, nor did they speak of him. Megan felt
Trevyn's agitation, and she was glad to feel it subside. They danced, and walked the room together, and
ate fine foods that she was never able to remember to her satisfaction, and danced again. By the time the
lutes and viols finished playing, she felt music moving through her even when her feet were still.

Taking her home through the frosty night, Trevyn held her before him on Arundel and felt the warmth of
her slender body against his. Why should he want her, this skinny, sharp-nosed little maid? Yet something
rose in him. To release it, he stopped Arundel where all the thousand stars could see, turned her to him,
held her, and kissed her long and deep. He trembled, but not with cold, and felt her body quiver in
answer. Then he felt tears on her face. He nestled her against his shoulder, stroking her hair and kissing
her eyes until she was calm. She did not speak as he took her home. He saw her within doors and kissed
her once, lightly, in the dark of the cottage; then he went without a word. Only as his hoofbeats faded
away did Meg realize that she still wore his cloak and brooch.