"Michael A. Stackpole - Dragon Crown Saga 3 - When Dragons Rage" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stackpole Michael A)

People saw him as a threat. They neutralized him. He is lucky to yet be alive. Enduring lies
is better than lying in a grave.тАЭ
тАЬWhat threat could he have been?тАЭ
тАЬHe told the crowned heads that Chytrine would come for their realms in a generation,
and this was a message they did not want to hear or have heard by others.тАЭ
тАЬThey knew she would come back?тАЭ Alexia raised her fists to her temples. тАЬAmid the
Gyrkyme it was supposed that someday Chytrine would return, but no one knew she had
vowed to do so. YouтАЩre telling me the crowned heads knew she would return and did not
prepare? That no one prepared save the Draconis Baron and King Augustus? How could
they?тАЭ
тАЬA crown on the head does not guarantee brains in the skull.тАЭ
тАЬBut to ignore the threat is criminal!тАЭ
тАЬYes, but recall they lived in fear. A sullanciri slew Queen Lanivette in Meredo, in her
castle, with all of her troops waiting to oppose him.тАЭ
She nodded. тАЬLeaving Scrainwood as king, and likely a willing collaborator with
Chytrine.тАЭ
тАЬOf course, and what other ruler could not fear the same fate for himself and his nation?тАЭ
The BlackтАЩs eyes half-lidded. тАЬFor many, the assumption was that if they did nothing,
Chytrine would not see them as a threat. What they did not realize was that to do nothing to
oppose a tyrant in fact aids that tyrant.тАЭ
Alexia opened her mouth for a second, then closed it. тАЬAnd Crow and Resolute have
spent two and a half decades opposing her.тАЭ
тАЬTheyтАЩve not been alone. And they are trusted.тАЭ The Black Dragon began pacing again.
тАЬThe Draconis Baron would never have allowed Crow to travel with you if he did not trust
him.тАЭ
тАЬYouтАЩre saying Cavarre knew?тАЭ
тАЬHe must have, yes.тАЭ
тАЬWho else?тАЭ
The Black shrugged. тАЬAugustus, certainly; a few others. Once Hawkins was believed
dead, he passed from notice. Some of the Vorquelves know, but the Vorquelves would
never betray Crow, since he is a key to getting their homeland back.тАЭ
Alyx shivered. The revelation of CrowтАЩs true identity had shaken and confused her. He
was a comrade in arms, a friend. She liked him. He had risked his life to save her. He had
opposed and destroyed sullanciri . He had given her good counsel. He had lied to her, but
only to hide his identity.
тАЬCrow knew my father, then?тАЭ
тАЬThey were well acquainted, for a time. Hawkins impressed your father with his honesty
and courage.тАЭ
She raised an eyebrow. тАЬYou knew my father?тАЭ
тАЬI never had the pleasure of embracing him and calling him brother, but I did know him
and certainly knew of him. He was a good man, and he would be inordinately proud of you.тАЭ
The Black grinned again. тАЬBut we can reminisce about your father another time, because it
was your concern over Crow that brought you here.тАЭ
His comment brought her up short. тАЬCan you read my mind?тАЭ
He shrugged. тАЬAs you get more practice here, you will become more comfortable. I am
not really reading your mind; there are just some things you are thinking rather loudly. For
example, you are correct in supposing that Crow should not be executed for the crimes he
was accused of so long ago. You will think of a plan to rescue him, though I urge caution in
executing anything that would put you on the wrong side of authority. You are a princess,
albeit of a nation still occupied by Aurolani forces, but you can use your station.тАЭ