"Nine Princes In Amber 05" - читать интересную книгу автора (Varley John)

"Is Corwin willing to essay this thing?" she asked.
I bowed.
"Willing, m'lady," I said, and she smiled then.
"Very well, you have my permission. I can guarantee you no guarantees of safety beyond my realm, however."
"As to that, your majesty," said Deirdre, "we expect no boons, but will take care of it ourselves upon our departure."
"Save for Random," she said, "who will be quite safe."
"What mean you?" asked Deirdre, for Random would not. of course, speak for himself under the circumstances.
"Surely you recall, she said, "that one time Prince Random came into my realm as a friend, and did thereafter depart in haste with my daughter Morganthe."
"I have heard this said. Lady Moire, but I am not aware of the truth or the baseness of the tale."
"It is true," said Moire, "and a month thereafter was she returned to me. Her suicide came some months after the birth of her son Martin. What have you to say to that, Prince Random?"
"Nothing," said Random.
"When Martin came of age," said Moire, "because he was of the blood of Amber, he determined to walk the Pattern. He is the only one of my people to have succeeded. Thereafter, he walked in Shadow and I have not seen him since. What have you to say to that, Lord Random?"
"Nothing," Random replied.
"Therefore, I wilI punish thee," Moire continued. "You shall marry the woman of my choice and remain with her in my realm for a year's time, or you will forfeit your life. What say you to that, Random?"
Random said nothing, but he nodded abruptly.
She stuck her scepter upon the arm of her tarquoise throne.
"Very well," she said. "So be it"
And so it was.
We repaired to the chambers she had granted us, there to refresh ourselves. Subsequently she appeared at the door of my own,
"Hail, Moire," I said.
"Lord Corwin of Amber," she told me, "often have I wished to meet thee."
"And I thee," I lied.
"Your exploits are legend."
"Thank you, but I barely recall the high points."
"May I enter here?"
"Certainly," and I stegped aside.
She moved into the well-appointed suite she had granted me, She seated herself upon the edge of the orange couch.
"When would you like to essay the Pattern?"
"As soon as possible," I told her.
She considered this, then said, "Where have you been, among Shadows?"
"Very far from here," I said, "in a place that I learned to love."
"It is strange that a lord of Amber should have this capacity."
"What capacity?"
"To love," she replied.
"Perhaps I chose the wrong word."
"I doubt it," she said, "for the ballads of Corwin do touch upon the strings of the heart."
"The lady is kind."
"But not wrong," she replied.
"I'll give you a ballad one day."
"What did you do when you dwelled in Shadow?"
"It occurs to me that I was a professional soldier, madam. I fought for whoever would pay me. Also. I composed the words and music to many popular songs."
"Both these things occur to me as logical and natural."
"Pray tell me. what of my brother Random?"
"He will marry with a girl among my subjects who is named Vialle. She is blind and has no wooers among our kind."
"Are you certain," said I, "that you do the best thing for her?"
"She will obtain good status In this manner," said Moire, "though he depart after a year and never return.
For whatever else may be said of him, be is a prince of Amber."
"What if she comes to love him?"
"Could anyone really do this thing?"
"In my way, I love him, as a brother."