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

at Rannach, Racharran guessed.
тАЬ Does my brother Racharran object to this?тАЭ asked Juh.
Racharran shook his head even as Yazte murmured, тАЬ You need not do this, brother. This is a farce.тАЭ
He flashed the Lakanti a smile and made a small, quieting gesture. It was a farce: he had no doubt of the
immediate outcome, for all he might wish Arrhyna would stand up and renege her promise to Rannach,
declare her mind changed, and go to Vachyr. The future should be easier that way. But stillтАФ he could not
help the small flame of maliceтАФ it should be good to see Chakthi humbled.
Ceremoniously, he rose to his feet, blanket cradled, and said, тАЬ I have no objection. Let those concerned
be heard.тАЭ
Old Juh nodded. Yazte scowled dark at Chakthi. Tahdase looked nervous. The ancient Aparhaso chief
raised a hand. тАЬ Then I summon them,тАЭ he intoned. тАЬ Let the maiden and her parents step forward and be
heard. Let the warriors step forward and hear our judgment.тАЭ
The protagonists moved through the crowd encircling the Council. Vachyr and Rannach trod proudly,
glowering at each other like young buffalo bulls in rut. Arrhyna came with downcast eyes, nervous as a
deer, Nemeth and Zeil close behind and no more confident. The crowd fell silent.
Juh said, тАЬ Let the maiden Arrhyna speak,тАЭ and smiled encouragingly. тАЬ Child, you are much honoredтАФ
two brave warriors ask your hand and offer many horses. Which would you have?тАЭ
For a moment, ArrhynaтАЩ s hair curtained her face, red as the fireтАЩ s glow. She spoke from behind its veil,
too soft she might be heard. Yazte said, тАЬ Child, do you speak up? YouтАЩ ve naught to fear; none shall harm
you here, nor say you nay.тАЭ
Arrhyna raised her head at that, green eyes wide as they fixed on Rannach. тАЬ My choice is Rannach,тАЭ she
said.
VachyrтАЩ s scowl darkened, the corners of his angry mouth downturned. Rannach beamed. Juh said, тАЬ Now
we hear the parents.тАЭ
Zeil glanced at Chakthi, clearly loath to earn the akamanтАЩ s further disfavor. Juh motioned that he speak,
and the man touched his wifeтАЩ s hand. With his eyes fixed on the ground he said, тАЬ VachyrтАЩ s bride-offer is
generous, but my daughter has made known her choice and I cannot deny her.тАЭ
тАЬ You name Rannach your choice?тАЭ Juh asked.
Zeil swallowed and said quietly, тАЬ I do.тАЭ
тАЬ And there is agreement with your wife in this?тАЭ
Zeil nodded. Nemeth said, тАЬ There is. I would abide by my daughterтАЩ s choice. I name Rannach.тАЭ
Racharran heard ChakthiтАЩ s furious grunt, saw the tightening of VachyrтАЩ s jaw. No good at all, he thought.
This shall be a troubled summer. But even soтАж He could not deny that the TachynsтАЩ discomposure
afforded him a degree of pleasure.
тАЬ Then it is agreed by all who have a choice in this,тАЭ Juh said. тАЬ How speak my brothers?тАЭ
Yazte said, тАЬ It is agreed,тАЭ beaming at Vachyr.
Slower and softer Tahdase said, тАЬ It is agreed.тАЭ
Chakthi snarled and shook his head. тАЬ I say no!тАЭ
Juh turned to Racharran. For an instant the Commacht thought he might shock them all by siding with
Chakthi, but that should only make an enemy of his son, and likely drive him away. Then those
headstrong warriors who followed Rannach would go with him and the clan be weakened. Nor, was he
honest with himself, could Racharran perform so dramatic a turnabout: it would be a diminishment of his
honor. Loud, he said, тАЬ It is agreed.тАЭ
Juh climbed stiffly to his feet, his arms raised as he turned slowly around the circle. тАЬ Then let all present
know it is decided.тАЭ His voice was pitched to carry to the outermost ring. тАЬ The maiden Arrhyna shall wed
the warrior Rannach with the blessing of this Council. Let none argue this, nor speak against it.тАЭ
Chakthi did not speak against the decisionтАФ could notтАФ but instead sprang upright with a furious snort
and stalked from the circle, Hadduth trailing his heels. Vachyr hesitated a moment, glaring first at Arrhyna
then at Rannach before following his father.
Into RacharranтАЩ s ear Morrhyn said, тАЬ Chakthi cannot argue this.тАЭ