"Sara Douglass - Redemption 1 - Sinner" - читать интересную книгу автора (Douglass Sara)

live forever, was also illegitimate, and while he founded the Throne of the Stars,
he rightly made no claim to the Acharite throne. Zared was Rivkah's only
legitimate child. Zared," he paused, reluctant to speak these words even among
friends, before finally gathering his courage, "is the legitimate heir to the throne
of Achar."
"But Achar no longer exists," Goldman put in. "The throne no longer exists.
Axis destroyed both. Surely Zared is heir to nothing but memories?"
There was a moment of silence, then Hurst spoke up, his face red. "But is
that right? The Icarü have their Talon, the Ravensbund have their Chief, and
now the Avar even have their head, the Mage-King Isfrael! Why should the
Acharites not have their head… nay, their pride back?"
The room broke into uproar, and Goldman was once again forced to stand
and hold up his hands for quiet.
"May I remind you, my friends," he said very softly, "that the term 'Acharites'
is no longer lawful." One of Caelum's first edicts on taking the Throne of the
Stars had been to ban the use of the term "Acharites" for the human population
of Tencendor. To him it smacked too much of the hatreds that had torn
Tencendor apart in the first instance.
"Whether we are Acharites, or Tencendorians, or bloody Manmallians," said
the silversmith angrily, "doesn't change the fact that I'd prefer to have a King
Zared ruling my life than a petty Prince Askam. No! Wait… there's more. It
doesn't change the fact that whether prince or king or pauper for all I care,
Zared is the man I'd prefer to have at my back in a street brawl, in a war, or as a
drinking companion in a tavern. I respect Zared, I like Zared, and what I think of
Askam doesn't bear spoken word in this company!"
"And what's more," cried a voice, "Zared is the rightful ruler, not Askam!"
"Gentlemen! Gentlemen!" Goldman cried. "Please… listen to me! Quiet down
now! Yes… yes… thank you, that's better. Gentlemen, I am Master of the Guilds
of Carlon. I am your spokesman, your voice. What would you have me do?"
Silence.
"I think," Heavorand said quietly, "that a little visit to Zared might be in
order. I think the Prince needs to know just how his people -"
No-one in the room missed the use of the phrase "his people".
"- feel about a number of issues."
"Will he act?" said a voice. "Or will he back away?"
"If it is your wish," Goldman said, "then I, with Heavorand, will make my way
north… on a trading trip, should Askam enquire. Once with Zared, I am sure I
in such a way ihat thc room
t Hie great silvery
keep of Sigholt sat quiet in the night air, reflecting stray moonbeams across the
Lake of -L Life. At this time of night few people were about. Two or three guards
moved about its walls, a servant trotted silently through the courtyard from
barracks to kitchens, an Icarü Enchanter stood on the roof, mesmerised by the
stars. Around the crescent of the lake, the town of Lakesview sat fat and secure
on the shoreline. It was a well-established town now, its people indulging in
some trading, some agriculture and much contentment. The nearby valleys and
slopes of the Urqhart Hills in the immediate vicinity of Sigholt gave them all they
wanted in food and recreation; few within the town pushed themselves to do
much more than enjoy what proximity to the wondrous lake was given to them
by the magical Keep and the extended family of SunSoars resident within its