JК
A Stroke Of Midnight :: Гамильтон Лорел
Страница: 142 из 293I see no extra value in him, merely because he had enough power and political savvy to stay out of the guards.”
“Others see the free lords as more valuable than we of the guard.”
“That is because they have forgotten that once it was considered an honor to be asked to join the royal guard. Once it was not a punishment, but a reward.”
“You speak of things too old to bear remembering,” Kanna said. “You were not there. You cannot know.”
“I listen to our stories, Kanna. I remember our history. Many of our best and most accomplished warriors were not forced into the guard, but invited. It only became a burden and a punishment… later.”
“You would leave a free lord to bleed to death, then?”
“If it is a choice between a man who risked his life on my order to save one that I love, and a man who tried to take the life of the one I love, then yes, let him die if he can. Wasn’t it you, Lord Kieran, who said a sidhe who can die from blood loss is no sidhe at all?”
Crystall had to move his sword back a little to give him breath and space to talk. “Innis is of the purest blood, not some pixie half-breed.”
“Funny how all blood looks the same when it is spilled upon the ground,” I said. “Are any of my people hurt besides Adair?” I looked at Kieran when I spoke, watched his face. I was rewarded because he looked puzzled.
“You truly would let Innis die.”
“Give me a reason not to let him die,” I said.
“He is not important enough to me to bargain for,” Kieran said.
“Then he will lie there and bleed until I decide otherwise.”
“Innis’s clan is powerful, Princess. You do not want them as your enemies.”
I laughed at that. “He has already proven himself my enemy.”
“We did not attack you,” Kieran said.
Adair was still leaning against the wall, bleeding. “Look at his wound, see how bad it is, and I ask for the last time are any of the rest of you hurt?”
Aisling spoke still wrapped in his cloak, so that most of him was hidden. “I let this one get past me.” He emphasized his words by driving the edge of his sword a little tighter against Melangell’s throat. Enough that a thin edge of crimson began to flow.
“Was it you that nearly cleaved her helmet to her skull?” I asked.
“Yes, but only after she bloodied me.” He sounded disgusted with himself.
“Frost, choose someone to take Aisling’s place, so we can see to his wounds.”
“Hawthorne,” Frost said, and one word was enough.
“Others see the free lords as more valuable than we of the guard.”
“That is because they have forgotten that once it was considered an honor to be asked to join the royal guard. Once it was not a punishment, but a reward.”
“You speak of things too old to bear remembering,” Kanna said. “You were not there. You cannot know.”
“I listen to our stories, Kanna. I remember our history. Many of our best and most accomplished warriors were not forced into the guard, but invited. It only became a burden and a punishment… later.”
“You would leave a free lord to bleed to death, then?”
“If it is a choice between a man who risked his life on my order to save one that I love, and a man who tried to take the life of the one I love, then yes, let him die if he can. Wasn’t it you, Lord Kieran, who said a sidhe who can die from blood loss is no sidhe at all?”
Crystall had to move his sword back a little to give him breath and space to talk. “Innis is of the purest blood, not some pixie half-breed.”
“Funny how all blood looks the same when it is spilled upon the ground,” I said. “Are any of my people hurt besides Adair?” I looked at Kieran when I spoke, watched his face. I was rewarded because he looked puzzled.
“You truly would let Innis die.”
“Give me a reason not to let him die,” I said.
“He is not important enough to me to bargain for,” Kieran said.
“Then he will lie there and bleed until I decide otherwise.”
“Innis’s clan is powerful, Princess. You do not want them as your enemies.”
I laughed at that. “He has already proven himself my enemy.”
“We did not attack you,” Kieran said.
Adair was still leaning against the wall, bleeding. “Look at his wound, see how bad it is, and I ask for the last time are any of the rest of you hurt?”
Aisling spoke still wrapped in his cloak, so that most of him was hidden. “I let this one get past me.” He emphasized his words by driving the edge of his sword a little tighter against Melangell’s throat. Enough that a thin edge of crimson began to flow.
“Was it you that nearly cleaved her helmet to her skull?” I asked.
“Yes, but only after she bloodied me.” He sounded disgusted with himself.
“Frost, choose someone to take Aisling’s place, so we can see to his wounds.”
“Hawthorne,” Frost said, and one word was enough.