"Lois Tilton - Avatar" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tilton Lois)

battlefield, taking a last, despairing look back at the shredded remains of my
brother-consort, still transfixed by the serpent-god's fangs.
Bodies littered the beach behind us, and reddened sand.
Inside the citadel, with the gates shut behind the last of the returning chariots,
panic filled the streets with demoralized and wounded soldiers, newly-made widows
and orphans, despairing cries. The captains fought for order, ordered men to the
walls, to defensive posts. I strove to encourage the defenders, for the city had not
fallen, its walls were still intact. But the Rhylians had seen Enyalios fall to the serpent,
and the radiance of my godlight was dimmed, so they no longer had to shield their
eyes.
The barbarian invaders had encamped outside the walls, beyond bowshot range.
Dusk was already gathering, and it appeared that they were going to put off their
assault on the gates until the next day. And the reason soon became clear to the
defenders gathered on the walls.
Toward the campfires there were figures being dragged, wounded Rhylian
soldiers taken from the battlefield. The pirates laid them on a makeshift altar, and the
serpent-god began to feed upon their living bodies.
Do mortals think the gods cannot shed tears? Even War, whose way is death and
defeat as much as victory, wept that night. Those same fangs had torn the body of
my brother-self. And, strengthened by bloody sacrifice, the serpent would seek my
defeat once more the next day.
As it fed, the ceaseless cries of anguish corroded the spirit of the Rhylians, their
will to resist. Sundered from my consort, my power to aid them was diminished.
Though they had called me the sacker of cities, now I must see the Rhylian walls
breached, the people slaughtered.
I despised my own weakness as a Rhylian warrior went to his knees in front of
me, despair choking his voice. "Goddess, Lady Enyo!" he cried, "Help us!"
I envied mankind at that moment, that they have gods to pray to. I prayed, also,
to the depths of my own immortal strength.
And found, possibly, an answer. I felt the faint glow of godlight once again as I
ran to climb down from the wall, to the king's palace. He was still in his armor,
standing beside his captains as they planned the city's defense.
Their heads turned in surprise to see me there, but I ignored them, went directly to
the king beside them, Alektryon, and stared into his eyes. Yes! What I sought was
there.
Then, "You must attack," I urged the warriors. "It's the only way, the thing they
will never expect. They think they have us beaten already. But we'll show them how
wrong they are! Attack, and War will be with you."
The captain Eteokles stared, wondering, but I had no time for him. I pulled
Alektryon away, toward a private room of the palace, and ordered the servants, "Get
out of here, find a weapon and get ready to fight for your lives, if you think you
deserve them!" They fled when they saw the flash of my eyes.
Then I turned to Alektryon, who was speechless in his confusion.
"Come," I told him, "it is time for the king of Rhylios to become the consort of
War."
He went white with shock, gasping out a protest.
I ignored it. "The soldiers saw Enyalios die. It took the heart from them, the will
to fight. And it diminished my own power. The two of us are one. I must have
another consort."
This was not absolutely so, what I told Alektryon. In other places, to other