"Alexander, Lloyd - Westmark 02 - The Kestrel" - читать интересную книгу автора (Alexander Lloyd)

"As a warrior should be," replied the duke. He wiped his fingers on a handkerchief and threw it aside. "I would even suggest," he went on Jokingly, "that our troops follow the example of those native tribes that paint their faces to terrify their enemies."

"Some of our older court ladies," rejoined Montmollin, "have already adopted that practice."

Conrad, laughing at the baron's sally, ordered the foresters to deal with the carcass and led his guests down the slope. They were in high good humor by the time they reached a clearing in the wooded valley, where grooms waited with the horses.

There was no sign of King Constantine, who was to join them there. A groom reported that His Majesty had sighted a stag at the last moment and had set off after it.

"We shall not wait for him," Conrad told his visitors.

"My nephew sometimes lets impulse, instead of policy, lead him. He knows where to find us. I can speak for him in his absence."

"I hope Your Highness can also speak for his safety," Erzcour said.

"Have no concern," replied the duke. "He is an excellent huntsman." He added lightly, "In any case, should some untoward event occur, the crown would revert to his eldest blood relative. And so, gentlemen, you would simply have me to deal with. That would not be disagreeable to you and your colleagues? Speaking theoretically, of course. Your plans would not be affected. We Regians, once fixed on a course of action, maintain it." He cocked an eye at the baron. "Your present sovereign is not so reliable- Unfortunate. I hear, Baron, she is called the Beggar Queen."

"So she is," replied Montmollin, "and I would prefer to see her queen of beggars instead of queen of Westmark. We are adequately provided with beggars on the streets; we do not require one on the throne."

The duke and his party rode back at an invigorating pace to the royal lodge. In the main room, where trophies of antlers and animal heads covered the walls, a table had been set with refreshments,. Conrad motioned for the servants to withdraw. The baron had strolled to the gun racks and was examining a silver-mounted pistol.

"An exquisite weapon," observed Montmollin. "It would make death almost charming."

"Almost, but not quite." Conrad laughed. "Keep it, Baron. I see you are a connoisseur. As for death, I must say frankly that your king's demise has made our task easier. Your Beggar Queen is new to her throne. She has not, I gather, consolidated any great support among her ministers, the army. or even her subjects. It is our moment of opportunity. We must act quickly, however, before that moment is lost to us."

"We are prepared to do so," Montmollin said, going to the table. "The first move, my dear Duke, is up to you."

"Our course of action is simple," said Conrad. "General Erzcour has already communicated with my staff officers. They agree that Regian troops will attack Westmark through the Caria Col. After a token resistance, General Erzcour will surrender and order all units to do likewise. We shall advance through the Caria valley. The way will be clear for us to press on to Marianstat and capture it. We shall offer generous terms, insisting only on the abdication of the queen. She will be in no position to refuse.

"So, gentlemen, I see no difficulties," Conrad went on. "For the sake of appearance, however, I believe it would be wise for you. General, to be taken prisoner temporarily, and treated with all the respect we pay to a gallant adversary- I also suggest that you, dear Baron, remain with us instead of returning to your estates. Not a hostage, you understand, but an honored guest. A small gesture of good faith. The king would appreciate this."

Montmollin bowed. "I accept your delightful hospitality. An unexpected pleasure, though I did not imagine my good faith required demonstration."

Erzcour had been listening with growing concern. "A soldier's oath is not taken lightly," he began after some hesitation. "Nor can it be broken tightly."

Conrad frowned. "Second thoughts? At this late stage?"

"General Erzcour is a good soldier," said Montmollin. "If he is suffering pangs of conscience, I quite understand and commend him." He turned to Erzcour. "You are not breaking your oath, I assure you. In the highest sense, you are keeping it. You are not betraying your kingdom. Nor am I. We are preserving it. The aristocracy is its blood and bone. Who can better hold it together? Yokels and cobblers? Tradesmen? The so called educated classes are no better than rabble who have learned how to spell. The aristocracy alone stands above greed and self-interest. Your duty lies with us."

"I do not question my duty," said Erzcour. "What I require is clear agreement on my resistance at the Caria Col. My troops cannot lay down their arms without offering a genuine show of strength- Will Regia accept the necessary casualties?"

"Of course," replied Conrad. "The invasion must be convincing. But not exaggerated. In the first engagements, we would expect to sacrifice, say, one hundred men. And you? How many of your own before you would judge surrender as the correct military decision?"

"I estimate three hundred," said Erzcour. "To lose fewer would be for me to surrender dishonorably."

Duke Conrad nodded. "Agreed. At that price, your honor will remain unblemished. Moreover, there will be no undue hardships on either side. In a matter of weeks, Constantine will enter Marianstat and receive the crown of Westmark."

"We shall welcome him," said Montmollin. "A Regitian king is preferable to a beggar queen. We recognize no boundaries between Regia and Westmark; that is a trivial matter for geographers and toll collectors. We speak the same language, in every sense of the word, barring, of course, our slight differences in accent.

Though I must say that your provincial dialects are as incomprehensible as some of ours. My own tenants. among themselves, might as well be jabbering in Trebizonian for all the sense I can make of it-