"Vance, Jack - Elder Isles 03 - Madouc" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vance Jack)

Cassander pointed to the stone chapel. УThat is where Suldrun took shelter from the weather. She spent many lonely nights in that small place.Ф

He gave his head a wry shake. УAnd also a few nights not so lonely, which cost her dear in grief and sorrow.Ф

Madouc blinked at the tears which had come to her eyes and turned away. Cassander said gruffly: УThe events are many years gone; one should not mourn forever.Ф

Madouc looked down the long descent of the garden. УIt was my mother, whom I never knew, and it was my father, who was put in a hole to die! How can I forget so easily?Ф

Cassander shrugged. УI donТt know. I can only assure you that your emotion is wasted. Do you wish to see more of the garden?Ф

УLet us follow the path and find where it leads.Ф

УIt goes here and there, and finally down to the beach. Suldrun whiled away her days paving the path with pebbles from the beach. Rains have undone the path; there is little to show for her work-or her life, for that matter.Ф

УExcept me.Ф

УExcept you! A notable accomplishment, to be sure!Ф

Madouc ignored the jocularity, which she found to be in rather poor taste.

Cassander said thoughtfully, УFor a fact, you are not at all like her. Evidently, you resemble your father, whoever or what ever he might have been.Ф

Madouc spoke with feeling: УSince my mother loved him, he was surely a person of high estate and noble character! Nevertheless, they call me СbastardТ and insist that I have no pedigree.Ф

Cassander frowned. УWho commits such discourtesy?Ф

УThe six maidens who attend me.Ф

Cassander was shocked. УReally! They all seem so sweet and pretty-Devonet in particular!Ф

УShe is the worst; in fact, she is a little serpent.Ф

CassanderТs displeasure had lost its edge. УAh well, girls can be saucy at times. The facts, sadly enough, cannot be denied. Do you care to go further?Ф

Madouc halted in the path. УHad Suldrun no friends to help her?Ф

УNone who dared defy the king. The priest Umphred came occasionally; he said he wanted her for Christianity. I suspect he wanted her for something else, which was no doubt denied him. Perhaps for this reason he betrayed her to the king.Ф

УSo Priest Umphred was the traitor.Ф

УI suppose he thought it his duty.Ф

Madouc nodded, assimilating the information. УWhy did she stay? I would have been over the wall and away inside the hour.Ф

УKnowing you, I well believe it! Suldrun, as I remember her, was of a dreamy gentle cast.Ф

УStill, she need not have remained here. Had she no spirit?Ф

Cassander considered. УI suppose that she hoped always for the kingТs forgiveness. If she ran away, what then? She had no taste for filth or hunger, nor the cold wind by night, nor the certainty of rape.Ф