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

you youngsters drinking the night away are long gone. The wedding, though, I shall attend.тАЭ
Racharran ducked his head, accepting the subtle dismissal. He turned toward young Tahdase, but the
Naiche akaman was already quitting the circle, surrounded by a protective band of warriors.
He returned to where Yazte waited. тАЬ We drink alone,тАЭ he said.
Yazte chuckled. тАЬ Then the more for us.тАЭ
Racharran smiled and looked about for Morrhyn. The wakanisha was deep in conversation with Kahteney
of the Lakanti and Isten of the Naiche, and when Racharran caught his eye and motioned the lifting of a
cup, he shook his head. Racharran shruggedтАФ so it would be him and Yazte, and therefore, no doubt,
further discussion of Chakthi and his famous temper. He went from the circle with the Lakanti, hoping
Yazte did not drink him dry.
тАЬ IтАЩ ve known the same dream,тАЭ Kahteney said. тАЬ I fear it bodes ill for the Commacht. I believe it means war
with the Tachyn.тАЭ
тАЬ That may well come,тАЭ Morrhyn allowed, тАЬ but I cannot believe the dream refers to that. I fear it is
something larger.тАЭ
He looked to Isten, hopingтАФ or fearingтАФ for confirmation, but the Naiche Dreamer only shook his head
and said, тАЬ This is a thing for the Dream Council, notтАЭ тАФ he glanced around as if fearful of
eavesdroppersтАФ тАЬ so public a place.тАЭ
Morrhyn frowned. Isten and his akaman shared the same cautious nature; or the one fed the other: it was
hard to decide. They both prompted him to think of nervous deer, waiting, testing the wind, before
venturing forth. Surely neither would come readily or swiftly to any decision; and he felt in his bones that
swift decisions would be needed ere long. But, by custom, he must allow Isten was right: was the dream
forewarning of events momentous as he feared, then it was a thing for the Dream Council, for all the
wakanishas. And after, when interpretation was agreed, for the full Council. He wondered if, after that
nightтАЩ s events, concord could any longer be reached. He lowered his head in silent acceptance.
тАЬ Best then we sit in council soon,тАЭ Kahteney declared tersely, favoring the Naiche wakanisha with an
irritated glance.
тАЬ Yes.тАЭ Morrhyn nodded, wishing it might be now. It seemed that since arriving at the Meeting Ground his
trepidation grew apace, as if this gathering of the clans somehow accelerated his concern.
тАЬ But best Rannach and Arrhyna are wed first,тАЭ said cautious Isten. тАЬ Let that particular thorn be blunted
before we seek HadduthтАЩ s aid.тАЭ
Morrhyn doubted the marriage ceremony would do much to blunt any of the TachynsтАЩ feelings, but it
would, he supposed, finally resolve the minor problem. тАЬ My brother Isten speaks wisely,тАЭ he declared
diplomatically. тАЬ But once that is done?тАЭ
тАЬ We hold Dream Council,тАЭ said Kahteney, and smacked his lips, grinning. тАЬ Now, Morrhyn, did Racharran
not invite my akaman to drink tiswin? And do you not think we wakanishas should attend them?тАЭ
Morrhyn hesitated. He would sooner speak of the dream or be alone to contemplate its meaning. Save, he
thought, Isten will not lend us his advice; and Kahteney believes it means war; soтАж He ducked his head
and said, тАЬ I suppose so. Isten, do you join us?тАЭ
тАЬ I think not.тАЭ The Naiche smiled apology. тАЬ Likely Tahdase would have my counsel.тАЭ
He nodded his farewell and left them. Kahteney watched his retreating back and said, тАЬ A careful one,
that. Like his akaman.тАЭ
тАЬ Caution,тАЭ said Morrhyn, тАЬ is no bad thing.тАЭ
тАЬ Save it become vacillation,тАЭ said Kahteney. тАЬ And those two are like skittish colts. They prance and run
directionless when the stallions stamp their hooves.тАЭ
Morrhyn refused to be drawn into criticism. Instead, he pointed in the direction of the Commacht lodges. тАЬ
Do we join our akamans before they finish all the tiswin?тАЭ
Kahteney needed no further urging: together the wakanishas strode from the circle.
Their path took them through the Tachyn camp, and there folk watched them pass in silence. It was
impossible to know their feelings. Morrhyn saw light in ChakthiтАЩ s lodge and the outlines of three men cast
shadowy against the hide. Chakthi and Vachyr spoke with Hadduth, he surmised; he wondered of what.