"Jack Vance - Elder Isles 1 - Lyonesse (2)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vance Jack)

Casmir grunted. “She’ll bring a wrack to the child.”

Dyldra only crouched the lower over the brazier. She threw a handful of herbs on the coals; a waft of
acrid smoke drifted across the room and touched Casmir’s face; he coughed, backed away, and
departed the room.

The maid drew hangings across the wet landscape and set the bronze lanterns alight. On the couch
Sollace lay taut, legs outthrust, head thrown back, her regal bulk fascinating the attention of those who
stood tending her.

The pangs became sharp; Sollace cried out, first for pain, then for rage that she should suffer like a
common woman.

Two hours later the child was born: a girl, of no great size. Sollace closed her eyes and lay back. When
the child was brought to her she waved it away and presently relaxed into a stupor.

The celebration attendant upon the birth of Princess Suldrun was muted. King Casmir issued no jubilant
proclamation and Queen Sollace refused audience to all save a certain Ewaldo Idra, Adept of the
Caucasian Mysteries. Finally, and only, so it seemed, that he might not contravene custom, King Casmir
ordained a gala procession.
 Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html




On a day of brittle white sunlight, cold wind and high hurrying clouds, the gates before Castle Haidion
opened. Four heralds in white satin marched forth, at a stately step-halt-step. From their clarions
depended gonfalons of white silk, embroidered with the emblem of Lyonesse: a black Tree of Life, on
which grew twelve scarlet pomegranates.* They marched forty yards, halted, raised clarions and blew
the “Gladsome Tidings” fanfare: From the palace yard, on snorting white horses, rode four noblemen:
Cypris, Duke of Skroy; Bannoy, Duke of Tremblance; Odo, Duke of Folize and Sir Garnel, Knight
Banneret of Castle Swange, nephew to the King. Next came the royal carriage, drawn by four white
unicorns. Queen Sollace sat swathed in green robes, holding Suldrun on a crimson pillow: King Casmir
rode his great black horse, Sheuvan, beside the carriage. Behind marched the Elite Guard, each of noble
blood, carrying ceremonial silver halberds. At the rear rolled a wagon from which a pair of maidens
tossed handfuls of pennies into the throng.

*The usages of heraldry, as well as the theory and practice of chivalry, were still simple and fresh. They
would not attain their full baroque extravagance for centuries to come.

The procession descended the Sfer Arct, the central avenue of Lyonesse Town, to the Chale, the road
which followed the semi-circle of the harbor. At the Chale, the procession circled the fish market and
returned up the Sfer Arct to Haidion. Outside the gate, booths offered the king’s pickled fish and biscuits
to all who hungered; and ale to those who might wish to drink health to the new princess.

During the months of winter and spring King Casmir looked only twice at the infant princess, in each
case, standing back in cool disinterest. She had thwarted his royal will by coming female into the world.
He could not immediately punish her for the act, no more could he extend the full beneficence of his
favor.