"Angus Wells - Exiles 01 - Exile's Children" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wells Angus)

each sided by their wakanishas and their wives. Kahteney favored Morrhyn with a smile the Commacht
Dreamer returned even as he wondered, Where is Chakthi? Where is Hadduth? Do they intend to insult
the Commacht with their absence?
He grunted his relief as the two Tachyn appeared, for all they seemed in no wise happy to be there.
Chakthi offered only the curtest of formal greeting to his hosts, and even terser to the bridal couple;
Nemeth and Zeil he ignored.
Racharran climbed to his feetтАФ smiling, Morrhyn thought, less in genuine welcome than relief similar to
his own. тАЬ I bid you welcome, brother.тАЭ Racharran gestured that Chakthi and Hadduth take their places. тАЬ
And you, wakanisha. You favor us with your presence.тАЭ
Chakthi ducked his head as if receiving no more than his rightful due; HadduthтАЩ s thin lips stretched in
parody of a smile. They sat in silence, accepting the tiswin Racharran himself poured.
тАЬ This is an auspicious day,тАЭ he said, raising his cup in toast. тАЬ My son weds a Tachyn maiden, and at
Matakwa. Do we put by those things that have stood between us and celebrate this wedding in friendship?
Do we drink to future amity?тАЭ
It was an unfeigned offering of peace. Juh beamed and nodded his silvered head in commendation;
Tahdase murmured encouragingly. Even Yazte hid his dislike and showed the Tachyn his teeth in
approximation of friendship.
Chakthi stared awhile at Racharran, then slowly raised his own cup. тАЬ To the future,тАЭ he said.
тАЬ A toast.тАЭ JuhтАЩ s voice filled a moment of awkward silence. тАЬ I drink to Rannach and Arrhyna. May their
joining join their clans.тАЭ
Again ChakthiтАЩ s cup was raised an instant slower than the others, but still he drank. And still, Morrhyn
thought, it is like inviting a vicious dog to share the feast, all the time wondering if heтАЩ ll eat or turn on the
guests.
Tahdase intoned a toast: тАЬ To Rannach and Arrhyna. May their union bless this Matakwa.тАЭ
Chakthi drank again, but again a moment late, as if he used the tiswin to wash away the words.
Now Yazte spoke. тАЬ I drink to Rannach and Arrhyna. And to peace at this Matakwa.тАЭ
Morrhyn sighed gratefully as he raised his cup. Likely Kahteney had reinforced RacharranтАЩ s
admonishment that the Lakanti not offend Chakthi. But then Yazte spoke again; тАЬ And your toast,
brother?тАЭ
His round face beamed amiably at the Tachyn akaman, and surely there was no overt hostility in his
question save, Morrhyn thought, it was a kind of challenge.
Chakthi smiled then and raised his cup. тАЬ I drink,тАЭ he said, тАЬ to Rannach and Arrhyna. May they receive all
they deserve.тАЭ
It was no clear indication, but neither was it possible to find offense in the words. They were ambiguous,
perhaps, but not insulting. Those present drank, and for the first time ChakthiтАЩ s smile seemed genuine.


3


Ill Omens
The feast lasted long into the night, thankfully without incident for all Chakthi and Hadduth seemed less to
celebrate than brood. They spoke little, and then only when addressed directly, and their smiles seemed
to Morrhyn furtive and empty of humor, save they shared some private jest. As soon as was meet,
Rannach and his bride made their excuses and departed for their lodge and, once they were gone,
Chakthi and Hadduth offered unsmiling farewells and quit the Commacht camp. None were sorry to see
them go, and the feast grew more lively for their absence: tiswin flowed in renewed abundance and, as if
the cloud were blown away to reveal the sun, the camp rang loud with laughter and bawdy songs.
Morrhyn drank his fill, but not so much that his senses were fuddled, and he saw that all those of the inner
circleтАФ save Yazte, who sat cheerfully swaying, his attention alternating between a cup of tiswin and a rib