"04 - Storm Season (a)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Asprin Robert)

Jubal bolted awake out of his half-slumber, his dagger once again at the ready.
That sound- nearby and drawing closer. Pulling himself along the floor toward
the doorway the slaver wondered, for the first time, just whose hovel Saliman
had hid him in. He had assumed it was abandoned-but perhaps the rightful owner
was returning. With great care he poked his head out the bottom corner of the
doorway and beheld-

Goats.

A sizable herd meandered toward the hut, but though they caught the ex
gladiator's attention, they did not hold it. Two men walked side-by-side behind
the animals. One was easily recognized as Saliman. The other's head came barely
to Saliman's shoulder and he walked with a rolling, bouncy gait.

Jubal's eyes narrowed with suspicion and puzzlement. Whatever Saliman's reason
for revealing their hideaway to a goat-herd it had better be a good one. The
slaver's mood had not been improved by the time the men reached the doorway. If
anything it had darkened as two goats strayed ahead of the rest of the herd and
made his unwilling acquaintance.

"Jubal," Saliman declared, hardly noticing the goats that had already entered
the hovel. "I want you to meet-"

"A goat-herd?" the slave spat out. "Have you lost your mind?"

"Not a goat-herd," the aide stammered, surprised by Jubal's erupting anger.
"He's a Lizerene."

"I don't care where he was born-get him and his goats out of here!"

Another goat entered as they argued and stood at Jubal's feet, staring down on
him with blandly curious eyes while the rest of the herd explored the corners.

"Allow me to explain, my lord," the little man said quickly and nervously. "It's
not where I'm from but what I am: the Order of Lizerene ... a humble order
devoted to the study of healing through sorcery."

"He can mend your legs," Saliman blurted out. "Completely. You'll be able to
walk-or run-if you wish."

Now it was Jubal's turn to blink in astonishment, as he absently shoved one of
the goats aside. "You? You're a wizard? You don't look like any of the magicians
I've seen in town."

"It's a humble order," the man replied, fussing with his threadbare robe, "and,
then again, living with the goats does not encourage the finery my town-dwelling
colleagues are so proud of."

"Then, these are your goats?" Jubal shot a dark look at Saliman.