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

woven through the long moons of Breaking Trees and Frozen Grass. It was a sight that always stirred
MorrhynтАЩ s heart, of which he never tired. He hoped that when the Maker took him back, it might be here,
where his bones could forever lie close to this wondrous symbol of unity.
He knew he smiled as he watched it all; and then his smile froze at the sight of Rannach splashing
through the brook.
The warrior was dressed in his finest, no longer bare-chested but wearing a shirt of pale buckskin, bead-
woven and painted with the horse head. His breeches were of the same hide, dyed blue and fringed in red
and white, and his dark hair gleamed from recent washing. Over his left shoulder he carried a blanket. He
went directly toward the lodge of Nemeth and Zeil, ArrhynaтАЩ s parents. At least, Morrhyn thought, he bears
no weapons; and then: he gave Racharran his word.
Even so, the wakanisha could not entirely quell his presentiment and looked past the young warrior to
VachyrтАЩ s tent, pitched beside his fatherтАЩ s. He let out his relief in a long sigh as neither Tachyn appeared.
Still, his heart beat fast as he returned his gaze to Rannach, for he knew the absence of ArrhynaтАЩ s other
suitor was no more than temporary respite, the quiet preceding impending storm. What shape that storm
should take he knew not, only that it surely came on.
тАЬ You who made us all,тАЭ he said, unaware he spoke aloud, тАЬ grant this goes smooth.тАЭ
Then he held his breath, as if he stood close by RannachтАЩ s shoulder and not far off and high, as the
young man halted before the lodge. The flap stood open and Nemeth came out, speaking awhile with
Rannach before turning to call inside. Arrhyna appeared, and on the instant Morrhyn saw she had awaited
this visit: her hair shone a fiery red, falling loose over her shoulders, and she wore a gown of deerskin
worked so soft it was almost white. Morrhyn imagined she had spent the winter moons shaping that
garment, in anticipation of this moment.
Rannach spoke and the maiden smiled, demurely lowering her head as she stepped toward him. He
shrugged the blanket from his shoulder, raising his arm so that it fell in a swoop of red, blue, and white.
Arrhyna stepped into its folds and Rannach settled his arm around her, lifting the blanket to hood them
both. Then, moving as one, they walked away, first amongst the lodges of the Tachyn, then over the
stream to wander the lines of the Commacht.
Morrhyn drew his eyes away: the declaration was made, now only formalities remained. Formalities and
VachyrтАЩ s response, and ChakthiтАЩ s. The wakanisha craned his head around, staring up at the MakerтАЩ s
Mountain. He sensed his dream thundering closer, but the pinnacle offered him no sign of what
approached, and after a while he rose and began the descent.
It was time to face the future.


2


Ceremonies of the Horsemen
тАЬ Three hands of horses were offered.тАЭ Chakthi flung out his fingers in emphasis. тАЬ Prime stock, every
one.тАЭ
тАЬ No doubt, for the blood of the Tachyn herds is the envy of us all.тАЭ Juh of the Aparhaso spoke mildly, his
tone a gentle contrast to ChakthiтАЩ s venom. Racharran smiled faintly: the old man was ever a keeper of the
peace. тАЬ But still the decision rests with the girl.тАЭ
ChakthiтАЩ s hand sliced air, dismissive.
тАЬ Who chooses Rannach,тАЭ said Yazte of the Lakanti. тАЬ Whose bride-offer was accepted by Nemeth.тАЭ
Beyond this inner circle of akamans and wakanishas, Racharran heard a nervous shifting and guessed
that was likely Nemeth. The man had courage, he thought, to defy the Tachyn leader. He wondered if
Nemeth and Zeil might not soon come seeking the shelter of the Commacht lodges: it was theirs for the
asking.
тАЬ Rannach offered only ten.тАЭ Chakthi pressed his point, his lupine features painted sharper in the firelight.