"Julian May - Boreal Moon 01 - Conqueror's Moon" - читать интересную книгу автора (May Julian)

He was silent, considering other things that her words had brought to mind. Then: “Advise me, if you please. None of these council attendees, not even Duke Tanaby or the earl
marshal himself, knows that the Edict of Sovereignty was as much your idea as mine. Would you have me tell them?”

A patronizing laugh. “I’m not the one who covets the ancient glory of Emperor Bazekoy, my prince. Warriors mistrust sorcery, and for good reason. It’s best that they know nothing
of our earlier… strategic consultations, for that might taint the sanctity of your great vision and weaken your authority. You must certainly tell your council of war how I intend to
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Julian, May - Boreal Moon 01 - Conqueror's Moon

assist the invasion, and my reasons for doing so. But keep the rest secure in your own heart. The unification of High Blenholme is your own dream, after all, and none but you can
fulfill it.”

He felt sweat start out on his brow, not from doubt of his own abilities to persuade and command the others, but in a belated flush of apprehension at where this alliance with her
might eventually lead.

“They will ask—my godfather and the earl marshal, at any rate—how you and I came to this marvelous friendship. Lady, what am I to tell them? They know we could never have
met face-to-face. And even though we have made some use of my brother’s arcane talent—”

“He has always been our go-between! You must convince the others of it. And see that Vra-Stergos is also convinced.”

“I’m sure my brother has suspected that I possess the talent, that you and I bespoke each other through magical means long before your Sendings appeared to Gossy and me together
at the hunting lodge. He’s a timid soul, and he no doubt put the notion out of mind for fear of what the consequences would be. Nevertheless, my brother won’t tell an outright lie
about my talent, even to protect me. It would violate his vows to God and Saint Zeth.”

“Then you must ensure that he does not officiously strive to tell the truth,” she snapped, “while you say what you must to the duke and the earl marshal, and charge your own
conscience. And if the new-hatched Doctor Arcanorum will not let be, then you must silence him.”

“He’s my older brother!” the prince exclaimed in horror. “I love him!” “He is a man born with the talent, whose voice carries on the wind and whose mind solidifies the Sending.
And by that token he is ineligible for your precious throne of Blencathra. As are you, Conrig Prince Heritor, if your vaunted truth be told.”

“But I didn’t know!” His whisper was desperate. “Not until—” “Until I came,” she said, unaware of the real state of things and knowing nothing of Snudge. “And I showed you how
the audacious dream of your youth might be fulfilled. You listened well to my secret counsel, and your scheme prevailed. The Edict of Sovereignty was proclaimed. That its
fulfillment was cruelly bungled by imbeciles was only a temporary setback. With my aid you shall set all to rights. And in the end who will care that you possess a small portion of
the talent, or that a few necessary falsehoods were told in your great endeavor’s fulfilling?”

He could think of no way to counter what she had said. Gossy would understand. He must understand…

“Very well. Leave me, then, lady. Be assured I’ll do what is best.” Again she touched his cheek, smiling, then vanished. The scent of vetiver remained, sweet and woodsy.

Prey to unspeakable thoughts concerning his beloved brother, he crept back to the balustrade and looked down blindly on the hall for a few minutes more, until Tanaby Vanguard
announced to the nobles at the high table that it was time to go to the solar and begin their conclave.




two
They entered in an untidy crowd, the Virago and seven other great barons, three viscounts, three counts, and Parlian Beorbrook, the kingdom’s chief military officer, all of them
caring nothing for the niceties of precedence as was the way of easygoing northerners. Last came the host of the clandestine gathering, who slammed the tall double doors firmly
behind him and shot its twin bolts into place.

“His Grace will join us in a moment,” Tanaby Vanguard said, nodding towards another closed door that gave onto the inner chamber. He wore a simple houserobe of russet velvet, a