"L. Sprague De Camp - Two Yards of Dragon" - читать интересную книгу автора (De Camp L Sprague)

instead of two as we truly understand."
"Let's not wander into the mazes of theology," said Sir Dambert, his
chin in his fist. "To be sure, the paynim Southrons believe that God is three,
an even more pernicious notion than that of the Easterlings."
"An I meet God in my travels, I'll ask him the truth o't," said Eudoric.
"Be not sacrilegious, thou impertinent whelp! Still and all and
notwithstanding, Doctor Baldonius were a man of influence to have in the
family, be his origin never so humble. Methinks I could prevail upon him to
utter spells to cause my crops, my neat, and my villeins to thrive, whilst
casting poxes and murrains on my enemies. Like that caitiff Rainmar, eh? What
of the bad seasons we've had? The God and Goddess know we need all the
supernatural help we can get to keep us from penury. Else we may some fine day
awaken to find that we've lost the holding to some greasy tradesman with a
purchased title, with pen for lance and tally sheet for shield."
"Then I have your leave, sire?" cried Eudoric, a broad grin splitting
his square, bronzed young face.
The Lady Aniset still objected, and the argument raged for another hour.
Eudoric pointed out that it was not as if he were an only child, having two
younger brothers and a sister. In the end, Sir Dam. bert and his lady agreed
to Eudoric's quest, provided he return in time to help with the harvest, and
take a manservant of their choice.
"Whom have you in mind?" asked Eudoric.
"I fancy Jillo the trainer," said Sir Dambert.
Eudoric groaned. "That old mossback, ever canting and haranguing me on
the duties and dignities of my station?"
"He's but a decade older than ye," said Sir Dambert. "Moreover and
furthermore, ye'll need an older man, with a sense of order and propriety, to
keep you on the path of a gentleman. Class loyalty above all, my boy! Young
men are wont to swallow every new idea that flits past, like a frog snapping
at flies. Betimes they find they've engulfed a wasp, to their scathe and
dolor."
"He's an awkward wight, Father, and not overbrained."
"Aye, but he's honest and true, no small virtues in our degenerate days.
In my sire's time there was none of this newfangled saying the courteous 'ye'
and 'you' even to mere churls and scullions. 'Twas always 'thou' and 'thee."
"How you do go on, Dambert dear," said the Lady Aniset.
"Aye, I ramble. 'Tis the penalty of age. At least, Eudoric, the faithful
Jillo knows horses and will keep your beasts in prime fettle." Sir Dambert
smiled. "Moreover and furthermore, if I know Jillo Godmarson, he'll be glad to
get away from his nagging wife for a spell."
So Eudoric and Jillo set forth to eastward, from, the knight's holding
of Arduen, in the barony of Zurgau, in the county of Treveria, in the kingdom
of Locania, in the New Napolitanian Empire. Eudoric
-of medium height, powerful build, dark, with square-jawed but otherwise
undistinguished features-rode his paifrey and led his mighty destrier Morgrim.
The lank, lean Jillo bestrode another palfrey and led a sumpter mule. Morgrim
was piled with Eudoric's panoply of plate, carefully nested into a compact
bundle and lashed down under a canvas cover. The mule bore the rest of their
supplies.
For a fortnight they wended uneventfully through the duchies and