"John Dalmas - Yngling 3 - The Circle of Power" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dalmas John)

day of grace, regardless of whether he uses that weapon. Furthermore, his
household will be held responsible for any blood payment incurred from the use
of that weapon.”
Baver could hear a soft murmuring from the
hundreds of northmen listening unseen behind him.
“As to blood payment for men and horses from
the fight at the stream,” the young giant went on, “that will be the standard
payment, made by the sept in error, the error to be determined by the new
line. However, if all the old cairns are within ten spans of the new line,
there will be no blood payment.”
Again Nils Järnhann turned his face toward the
two opposing clan chieftains. “There will be no appeal to these rulings, nor
to the line laid out by the eight warriors of the Seal and Bull Clans.”
He paused, then looked at Jäävklo. “Jäävklo, I
have another matter to talk with you about, before the council, and before the
People assembled here. You have told us that Axel Stornäve refused to require
the Reindeer and Salmon Clans to give part of their territories to the Glutton
Clan. Because, you said, there was bad blood between you and Axel. You have
also said this before our present meeting, though never in council.
“What your words mean is that Axel Stornäve
did not treat honestly with the Glutton Clan, that he withheld fairness
because of an old grudge. I have talked with other chiefs about this. They
told me the question of adjusting boundaries never came up in Council. When
did you talk with Axel about it?”
“Just before the First Council of All Chiefs,
held to discuss leaving the Homeland. He refused me then.”
“Who else was there when you discussed it with
him?”
“Arvid Smitsson, who now is dead, killed in
battle with the horse barbarians.”
“No other?”
Jäävklo shook his head.
“You shake your head; your answer then is no.
Axel Stornäve called the First Council of All Chiefs to propose his plan to
leave the Homeland, and to get the agreement of as many clans as possible. And
he succeeded. Did this solve the land problem of the Gluttons?”
“Yes. But now we have another problem, and
with Stornäve’s own clan, the Wolves! Your clan! He has poisoned your minds
against me!”
“We’ve solved that new dispute tonight. Now
I’m looking at your complaint about Axel Stornäve and his honesty. So you told
Axel of your problem on one day and he solved it that same day, is that right?
Or the day after?”
A sullen nod.
“I am also told that you became chief only the
winter previous. When had you had dealings with Axel Stornäve before that
day?”
The Glutton chieftain didn’t answer at once,
and when he did, his voice was shrill. “You’re trying to trick me! You’re of
the Wolf Clan too! You’re trying to make me look like a troublemaker, you and