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

His pale eyes flashed a challenge. тАЬ Ten against VachyrтАЩ s fifteen. How can that be right?тАЭ
тАЬ Our women are not beasts, my friend.тАЭ Juh frowned, his wrinkles spreading like sun-cracks over the
ancient clay of his face, but still his tone was mild. тАЬ They are not bought and sold like horses. Arrhyna has
a say in this.тАЭ
тАЬ And tells Rannach yes.тАЭ Yazte spoke with studied calm, only the barest hint of contempt in his voice.
Does this all come to war, weтАЩ ve an ally there, Racharran thought. YazteтАЩ s no more liking for Chakthi
than I. He turned his attention to the others, wondering where their allegiances would lie. Juh, he thought,
would seek to hold his Aparhaso aloof from any conflict. He looked to Tahdase of the Naiche but the
young manтАЩ s face was veiled, as if heтАЩ d not yet cast his stone. Racharran could not blame him: Tahdase
was not long akaman of his clanтАФ this was his first Matakwa as leaderтАФ and, sensibly, he sought no
enmities. Even so, Racharran thought, Chakthi forces this to a vote, and then Tahdase must make his
choice.
He returned his eyes to the Tachyn akaman as Chakthi spoke again. тАЬ I do not say our women are
beasts.тАЭ Chakthi attempted a placatory smile: it seemed to Racharran like the grin of a wolverine. тАЬ Only
that any sensible father, any sensible maiden, must surely choose the better price. Indeed, the better
man.тАЭ
Racharran had promised himself he would play the diplomat in this Council, not invoke ChakthiтАЩ s anger,
but this was too calculated an insult to ignore with honor. He raised a hand and said, тАЬ You say that
Vachyr is the better man?тАЭ
MorrhynтАЩ s elbow dug hard against his ribs, but he ignored the wakanisha as he faced Chakthi. The
Tachyn smiled stonily and ducked his head. тАЬ Vachyr is Tachyn: yes, he is the better man.тАЭ
Racharran stiffened even as MorrhynтАЩ s hand clasped his wrist. None bore arms in Council, but had
Racharran worn a blade thenтАж тАЬ Careful.тАЭ MorrhynтАЩ s voice was a breeze against his ear. тАЬ He rants; he
seeks to provoke you. Do not rise to his bait.тАЭ
It was not easy. Yazte stared at Chakthi as he might at some night crawler found in his bedding. Old Juh
frowned in open disapproval. Even careful Tahdase looked shocked. At their sides, the wakanishas of
their clans scowled. Racharran reined in his anger, forcing back the challenge that sprang to his lips.
Carefully; measuring his words, he said, тАЬ Your opinion is your own to hold, brother. As is mine.тАЭ
A shadow crossed the TachynтАЩ s face, anger and disappointment flashing an instant in his eyes. In the
name of the Maker, Racharran wondered, does he truly look to begin a fight here, now?
тАЬ We are the Council of the People.тАЭ JuhтАЩ s voice was no longer so gentle; now it was edged with the steel
that made him akaman. тАЬ It is unseemly that we trade insults here, in Matakwa.тАЭ
Yazte grunted agreement; Tahdase nodded as solemnly as his youth allowed.
Chakthi stared fiercely around for a while, then Hadduth spoke softly in his ear and he lowered his head. тАЬ
My brother Racharran speaks the truth. Our opinions are our own to hold. I intended no insult to the
Matakwa.тАЭ
It did not sound like an apology, but under the pressure of MorrhynтАЩ s fingers, Racharran nodded his
acceptance.
тАЬ So, then, do we return to this matter of Arrhyna?тАЭ Juh sounded relieved.
тАЬ WhatтАЩ s to discuss?тАЭ Yazte smiled with deliberate calm. тАЬ An offer has been made, an offer rejected; the
maiden has chosen. What else is there?тАЭ
ChakthiтАЩ s teeth ground behind his thin-pressed lips and the eyes he turned on the Lakanti were cold as
winter ice. тАЬ As akaman of the Tachyn, I object to her choice.тАЭ His voice was no warmer than his gaze. тАЬ
As akaman of the Tachyn, I ask that the Council decide this matter for her.тАЭ
This was without precedent, but it was no more than Racharran had expected. Times were, a maiden
could not decide between two suitors or her parents might object to her choice, then the matter could be
decided in ChiefsтАЩ Council, all concerned presenting their views and the CouncilтАЩ s decision final. In this
case there was nothing for the Council to decide: Arrhyna had chosen, her parents did not object. Chakthi
pushed too farтАФ as Racharran had fearedтАФ solely on behalf of his son. He looked past the Tachyn
akaman to where Vachyr sat amongst the warriors. The young man was glaring across the Council fireтАФ