"Jeffrey Lord - Blade 01 - The Bronze Axe" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lord Jeffery)

bleated in derision.
After the sights of that night Blade had felt he would never eat again. Now his stomach rumbled
indelicately and he was ravenous. He said as much to Taleen, who had stopped chattering for a moment,
and she bade him be patient. The town of Sarum Vil, and her cousin Lycanto, was not far now. They
would be well fed.
After another small silence, during which Blade caught a whiff of salt air and knew they were near the
sea, Taleen said: "Blade!"
"Princess?"
"I think it best that we do not speak of the things we have seen this night. The Albs are a suspicious
lot as it is, and I am going to have enough trouble explaining you. I do not think we should mention the
Drus, or what we did or saw. If you agree I think we must make an oath on it."
It was agreeable enough to Blade, in fact suited his purpose, yet it was in his nature to probe a matter
that interested him. Without looking at her he said, "You knew that girl who was killed tonight?"
After a moment: "I did not say that. Or did not mean it so. A princess does notknowa serving wench.
But I recognized her—she was of my cousin Lycanto's household. So what of this?"
He prodded her gently, unsmiling. "You mentioned gossip, and matters you did not understand. What
of this indeed? I must know. You do not walk in peril now, but I do. How will these things affect me?
And how came that poor girl into the hands of the Drus?"
He heard her sharp indrawn breath. "I spoke true when I said you were a wizard in your own land!
Your wit is sharper than a sword—you go straight to the heart of matters. But you are right. It is another
reason why we must not tell of what we have seen tonight."
"I am flattered," he said. "And yet a little confused. So tell me, straight out, wherein do I go to the
heart of matters?"
"It must have been Alwyth," said the Princess. "She is wife to Lycanto. She is a shrew and a bitch,
and I do not like her, yet she is a good wife and mother. And my cousin, Lycanto, is a fool like most
men. He is like a rooster that thinks all hens are his personal property. The gossip of which I spoke is
true—Lycanto has been bedding with that serving girl for months. Now Alwyth has found it out and has
given the girl to the Drus for sacrifice. That much is simple. What is not so simple is what Lycanto will do
if he finds this out. My cousin is a great warrior, very brave, and also very stupid. He is easygoing and
hates trouble. He will suffer much to avoid it, especially with Alwyth. Yet if he finds out that his whore
has been slain and eaten by the Drus, and with the aid and consent of Alwyth, then Frigga only knows
what will happen. Lycanto will not attack the Drus because he is afraid of their magic, but his rage is
terrible when it comes and who can tell who will feel his hand. Perhaps even you. Or me."
Blade gave her a cool stare. "You mean me, of course. You are kin of this Lycanto and he will not
harm you. But me, a stranger—"
She nodded, and for a moment seemed to gloat. "Yes. I am glad you understand, Blade. The Albs
are a cruel people. But if we keep our mouths shut tight, and Lycanto is in a good mood, I can have my
will of him. I will ask for an escort of armed men, and insist that you accompany me north to my father. I
am very grateful to you for saving me from Queen Beata, and my father, King Voth, will also wish to
thank you in person. So that you understand, Blade."
He nodded. "I do understand." Taleen smiled at him. "And besides, Blade, I have no wish to lose you
yet. You frighten me a little. You puzzle me. Most of all you intrigue me. I have a feeling, Blade, that
Frigga has cast a future for us. Love? Or perhaps death. Who can know?"
Frigga, as Taleen had explained, was the Goddess of all women in Alb, in Voth, and indeed in the
whole land as far as the Princess knew. She was a trifle vague about her pantheon. She added, with
some indignation, that Frigga was not recognized by the Drus and that worship of her, or even mention,
was forbidden—a ruling which the common folk ignored, as did the well born.
The male deity in the land was Thunor, equally in bad grace with the Drus, and so invoked as often
as possible. Blade filed the name of Thunor away for future reference, conceding that when in the land of
Alb it might be as well to do as the Albians did, always within reason, of course.