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.'Yetwhile I die, thou wilt live in my debt! And what thou canst not pay to me, thoumust pay to my people.'aaTTnnssFFffooDDrrPPmmYYeeYYrrBB22.BBAAClick here to buyClick here to buywwmmwwoowwcc.AAYYBBYYBBr rRod tried to draw his hand back.'No!''Aye!' Tom's eyes flew wide, glaring, angrily.''Tis the payment I demand! Thy lifefor mine, thy life spent here on Gramarye, to work for the good of my people!''I'm not my own master.''Nay, thou art.' Tom sank back, weary.'Thou art, and if thou knowest it not,thou'rt true fool.''The price is too high, Tom.My death in battle, yes, gladly.But living here, all mydays, I cannot.I too serve a dream''Twas my choice, also,' Tom sighed, 'the dream or the man.Nay, then, choosewhat thou wilt.''I'm under a geas.''Then my geas also is on thee, freeing thee from the other.Thou must serve meand mine now.The dying face darkened.'I had thought I knew what was best for them.butnow, as all darkens about me.'He heaved up suddenly, body wracked with a spasm, coughing blood.Rod threwhis arms about the big man, holding him up.The spasm passed.Tom clutched weakly at Rod's arm, gasping.'Nay, then.thymind is.clearer.thou must decide.''Be still,' Rod pleaded, trying to lower him again.'Don't waste what little life isleft-''Nay!' Tom clutched at him.'Let me speak! Espers Tribunal.they'll make it.work.We.fight them.here.inthe.''Be still,' Rod pleaded.'Save your breath, I know what you're saying.'Tom craned his neck to look up at him.'You.?'Rod nodded.'Yes.You told me the last little bit I needed, Just now.Now liedown.'Tom sagged in his arms.Rod lowered him gently, letting his head rest on theblood-soaked cape.Tom lay panting.'Tell me.I must know.if you know.'aaTTnnssFFffooDDrrPPmmYYeeYYrrBB22.BBAAClick here to buyClick here to buywwmmwwoowwcc.AAYYBBYYBBr r'Yes, I know,' Rod murmured.'The DDT will win out.You can only fight it backhere.And you fight each other as well.''Aye.' Tom nodded, a barely perceptible movement.'Thou must decide.now.and.master.'He mumbled, too soft to hear, and labored for another breath, eyes opening,anxious.Rod bent forward, putting his ear to Tom's lips.'Don't die for.a dream.'Rod frowned.'I don't understand.'He waited, then said, 'What do you mean, Tom?'There was no answer.Rod straightened slowly, looking down at the vacant eyes, the loose mouth.He touched the base of the throat, the jugular.He let his fingertips rest there long minutes, then slowly reached up to close theman's eyes.He stood, slowly, and turned away, his eyes not seeing.Then, slowly, his eyesfocused.He looked around at the stating, pathetic beggars, their eyes fixed on thehuge body.A slight, slender shape stepped hesitantly into the ring.'M-master Gallowglass?'Rod turned, saw, and stepped forward as the beggars began to move in, to kneelby Tom's body.'Milord.' Toby's face was strangely tragic in its confusion as he looked at thegroup of beggars, disturbed without knowing why.'Milord, they.They cry forquarter, milord.Shall we give it them?''Quarter? Oh, yes.They want to surrender.' Rod nodded, closing his eyes.He turned and looked at the group of beggars.'Oh, I don't know.What does Bromsay?''My lord O'Berin says, aye, grant it them, but the Queen says nay.The LordsLoguire are with Brom.'aaTTnnssFFffooDDrrPPmmYYeeYYrrBB22.BBAAClick here to buyClick here to buywwmmwwoowwcc.AAYYBBYYBBr r'And still the Queen says nay.' Rod nodded, bitterness tightening his mouth.'Andthey want me to break the deadlock, is that it?''Aye, milord.'The circle of beggars parted a little.Rod saw Tom's waxen, still face.He turned to Toby.'Hell, yes.Give 'em quarter.'The sun had sunk behind the hills, leaving the sky a pale rose, darkening to theeast.The twelve Great Lords stood, bound in chains, before Catharine.Near her sat Loguire and Tuan, Brom and Sir Mans.Rod stood a little distance away, leaning back against Fess, arms folded, chinsunk on his breast.The old Duke Loguire's head was also bowed, deep misery in his eyes, for his sonAnselm stood a pace in advance of the rest of the lords, directly before the Queen [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]