"Stephen Lawhead - Pendragon Cycle 05 - Grail" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lawhead Stephen)

need not be the ruin you fear.'
'No?' His interest pricked. 'If there is some way to avert the judgment,
lord, I beg you to tell me.'
'There is,' I assured him, 'if you will abide it.' I then extended the small
hope I had brought with me. 'The man who has been given these lands is
not willing that any should be cast out. He has said that any who wish to
stay in their settlements may do so, and has vowed that the protection he
affords his own people will be extended to all who remain in his realm.'
Thinking he saw the answer to his troubles, Hwyl seized the proposition at
once. 'Then we will stay! By God, we will stay.'
'Wait until you have heard all,' I cautioned. 'You may have different
thoughts when I tell the rest.'
Hwyl, unwilling to throw aside the promise so quickly embraced, said,
'Tell me, then. It can be no worse than I have heard already.'
'It is this: the man of whom I speak is not a Briton.'
'No?' A frown of concern creased his brow. He imagined the worst, and
confronted it head-on. 'Is he Irish, then?'
'He is not Irish, either,' I said. Peredur and Tallaght knew what was
coming and tensed as if to meet a blow. There was no way to say
otherwise, so I told him the blunt truth. This man is the lord and leader of
the enemy we have been fighting in the south.'
'Blessed God in Heaven,' breathed Hwyl, aghast at such harsh justice.
I allowed him to grapple with this, wishing we had another cup or two to
help digest this meal of stones. 'His name is Mercia, and he is lord of the
Vandali, who have been conquered. The enemy king who made war on
Britain has been vanquished, and in exchange for peace, his lords have
sworn fealty to Arthur Pendragon. It is Mercia's desire to occupy unsettled
lands; he purposes that his people should raise their own settlements and
strongholds. What is more, this Mercia has vowed that he will take
nothing that is not given freely, and will strive for peace between his
people and the Britons who remain under his care.'
Hwyl was silent for a time, coming to terms with what I had said. 'We can
stay - that is certain?' he asked finally.
'Mercia has made this promise -1 cannot honestly vouch for its certainty.
But you need not answer me now. Hold council with your people,' I
advised. 'Summon the other chieftains and talk to them.'
'If we left our lands, where would we go?'
'There is no provision for you elsewhere.'
'So that is the way of it,' concluded Hwyl bitterly. 'It is either remain and
be ruled by an enemy, or become like the Picti and wander the hills
knowing neither hearth nor home.'
I did not allow his budding anger a chance to flower. 'Yes, that is the way
of it. In the Pendragon's name, you and your chieftains are summoned to a
council of all whose lands are forfeit,' I informed him. 'You are to deliver
your decision then.' I signalled to Peredur and Tallaght that it was time to
go. The two rose at once, and I instructed them to ready the horses.
'Will you not stay the night?' asked Hwyl, but the warmth of hospitality
had grown cool. His shoulders were slumped now, as if under the weight
of his grief and the hard judgment he must endure.
'We have disturbed the peace of this place more than enough,' I answered.