"Julian May - Trillium 1 - Black Trillium" - читать интересную книгу автора (May Julian)

Orogastus, his newly appointed Grand Minister of State, Voltrik summoned his
grown son Crown Prince Antar and the Labornoki commander-in-chief General
Hamil. He told them to prepare for the immediate invasion of Ruwenda.

Chapter One
Once again, from down in the outer ward of the beleaguered Citadel, a blazing
blue-white light dazzled the eyes of the watching royal family, and those of the
courtiers and the Oathed Companions gathered with them on a balcony at the mid-
level of the great keep. An attendant clap of thunder hit their ears a split second
later.

King Krain uttered a groan of despair. "By the White Lady, this time there can be
no doubt! The sorcerer Orogastus has indeed called down lightning from a clear
sky, and this stroke has breached the wall of the inner ward!"

Labornoki foot soldiery came surging by the hundreds through the broad, newly
made gap. They were closely followed by mounted knights led by the brutal
General Hamil. The charging attackers flattened the valiant Citadel defenders as
easily as the hurricane blasts marshgrass. Moments later there was a third blinding
magical flash, and then a fourth, and after each one enemy hordes poured through
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fresh breaks in the fortifications.

"It is the end," said the King. "If that ancient rampart with its multiple bastions
can be pierced by the uncanny bolts of Orogastus, then there is no way the great
keep itself can long remain secure."

He turned to one of the Oathed Companions. "Lord Sotolain, bring my armor.
And you, Lord Manoparo, I charge with the safety of our dear Queen and
Princesses. Take them to the innermost stronghold of the keep, where you and
your knights must defend them to the last drop of your blood. The rest of you,
prepare to engage the foe at my side."

Queen Kalanthe simply nodded; but Princess Anigel broke out in piteous weeping,
and so did the ladies-in-waiting. Princess Haramis stood like a frowning image of
marble, only her great blue eyes and shining black tresses relieving the pallor of
her skin and the white gown and cloak she wore. Princess Kadiya, dressed in her
mannish green leather hunting kit, unsheathed her dagger and brandished it.

"Sire —dear Father! —let me fight and fall at your side! Rather this than I cower
away with sniveling women while the flatlander bastards conquer Ruwenda!"

The Queen and the nobles gasped, and Princess Anigel and the ladies left off their
bewailing in astonishment.

Princess Haramis only smiled coldly. "I think, Sister, that you put rash stock in
your prowess as a fighter. These are not larval raffins fleeing your toy spear in a