"Karl Edward Wagner - Kane 01 - Darkness Weaves" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wagner Karl Edward)

was unable to get Efrel pregnant. Again a male heir eluded him, and this renewed frustration blighted his
passion for her. Of his own virility there could be no question; it must then be Efrel who was barren. In
his dark moods perhaps Maril remembered the old rumors concerning Efrel's inhuman parentage--for it is
common that hybrids are sterile. Angrily he severed all but the most formal relations with his wife.

Despairing of realizing her ambitions with Maril, Efrel then turned to intrigue. Seeking out Leyan, she
easily seduced him with her ready beauty--and with the promise to aid Leyan in his bid for the Imperial
throne. For if Netisten Maril died without male heir, Leyan would be his successor. The idea had, of
course, often occurred to Leyan, but he was well aware of his half-brother's careful measures to prevent
assassination, and that he would be the obvious culprit in the event of success. But many a man has lost
all caution in a woman's embrace, and so it was with Leyan.

The two conspired to murder Netisten Maril with a slow-acting poison of Efrel's devising, whose certain
toxins would mimic a natural illness. Any resistance at court to Leyan's succession they would quell with
an army secretly loyal to them. The plot was well underway, and several of the nobility had sworn
allegiance to Leyan in return for promised rewards under his reign. Then disaster struck the conspirators.

Maril had always been on the alert for conspiracy, especially from his half-brother. He had taken
extensive precautions, and his spy system was more effective than either Efrel or Leyan had realized.
Thus Maril learned of the plot before it could mature. One night he surprised the two together in Efrel's
bedchamber and announced to them that all who had entered into conspiracy with them were being
arrested even at that moment.

Leyan came out from the sheets with time to draw his sword, if not draw on his pants, before Maril's
guards could intervene. But Maril with characteristic rashness ordered his men not to interfere and
welcomed his brother's attack. Then followed a desperate bit of swordplay--for Leyan might still win an
empire should he win this duel, and the only alternative was certain death. For what those who watched
swore was fully half an hour, though exaggeration is understandable, these two seasoned veterans
fought--each skilled from constant training and hardened from many campaigns. Leyan was judged to be
the better swordsman, but Maril, I think by design, had confronted his brother while he was groggy from
wine and recent loveplay. Further, Leyan was naked, and Maril wore mail.

Gradually Maril forced him back, slowly wearing down his frantic defenses, parrying his superior
swords-play with growing confidence. A small cut here, a barely parried thrust there--slashes that mail
would turn and bare flesh could not. Finally Leyan moved a heartbeat too slow to counter the deceptive
slash of Maril's powerful sword arm. His brother's blade clove through his side, and down toppled
Leyan--his final curses strangled by the blood that filled sundered lungs. His fate was the easiest of the
conspirators.
Efrel then tried suicide, it is said--but the guards were too swift and stopped her dagger short of her
breast. Maril left her beside the corpse under close guard--there to ponder the fate that would await her
with the new day.

At dawn Maril sent out criers to tell Thovnosten's populace of the aborted conspiracy--and to summon
them to the execution at noon. The people flocked to the central square, eager for the spectacle and the
promised food and drink given in celebration of their loyalty to Netisten Maril. Peddlers, hawkers, and
vendors descended like vultures from the cloudless sky.

Efrel arrived clad in her most splendid gown and jewelry. Those with memories for such things
recognized it as the gown she wore when first she bewitched Maril. She was enthroned at the side of
Netisten Maril as usual, but instead of ladies-in-waiting, there were guards to see to her comfort. Then