"Daley,.Brian.-.Coramonde.1.-.Doomfarers.Of.Coramonde" - читать интересную книгу автора (Daley Brian)

with some plan.

The Prince wondered vaguely where his stepbrother was and why
Strongblade wasn't present. Perhaps Fania hadn't wanted her son
to be involved, fearing even Strongblade's ability to cope with the
fierce Hightower. Synfors began his predatory glide again, nearing
the Duke and initiating the same double-stroke attack, but suddenly
found out to his brief dismay the difference between his own
sportman's accomplishments and the battle skill of his opponent,
the wage of a lifetime of war and drill.

Hightower took a double grip on the hand-and-a-half hilt of his
sword and stepped deeply forward and to the left, windmilling the
heavy bastard blade to the right. Such was the speed of the older
man that Synfors missed his thrust as his point passed by his
antagonist's shoulder, and such the force of the Duke's stroke that
the beautiful guard of the Count's right-hand rapier was smashed,
the hand beneath it broken and laid open to the bone.

Synfors screamed, dropping his right-hand sword and bringing the
left up hi futile gesture. Another time, Hightower might have let him
live, but there was no restraint hi him tonight. The second rapier
was swept away, no more than thin procrastination, and the would-
be executioner was himself dead a heartbeat later.

Fania was plainly shaken at this quick brutality, but she turned to
Yardifl Bey. When she turned back to face the Court she seemed
to have drawn strength and control from some quarter, and the
Prince began to wonder, between Queen and sorcerer, who was
subordinate to whom.

She rose to her feet, thowing back the white-furred splendor of her
robe, and cried, "Murderer! This fight

Of Deaths, Of Departure 11

was not condoned; you had not my let to brawl, either one. The
Count is.beyond my retribution, but I shall visit my anger twofold
upon you."

Springbuck expected to hear the order go out and see deadly
shafts throw back the lamplight on their way to the Duke's heart.

But instead, Fania commanded, "Archog, slay me this man." At this
Archog, the largest of the ogres and the captain of them, drew his
huge broadsword from its scabbard at his back and shuffled
forward.

Springbuck watched in horror. The match between Hightower and
Synfors had been one thing, a bout between men by challenge