"Debra Doyle & James D. MacDonald - School of Wizardry" - читать интересную книгу автора (Doyle Debra)

"The day may come," said the master-at-arms, "when you
won't have your shield, and you won't have your armor, and you
won't have your friends beside youтАФbut you'll have your sword
and your skill. Those will always be with you. Now watch."

The master-at-arms swung his blade as if cutting at an
enemy's leg. At the last moment, he straightened his arm and
stepped forward with his rear foot, turning the thrust into a
deadly lunge.

"Like that," said Palamon. "Aim for a spot somewhere
beyond the other man's back. Now you try."

Randal hefted his sword. Frowning, he tried to see an enemy
standing in front of himтАФno taller than this, no farther than
that. He could see where his blow would have to end up, on the
other side of the imaginary figure; he thrust and put the sword
point there.

"That's more like it," said Palamon. "Keep practicing and
don't let your mind wander, and we'll make a knight of you
yet."

A shout came from the castle gate. "Stranger coming up the
road!"

The wind gusted harder, making the rain sting against
Randal's face. "All right, lads," he heard Palamon saying as he
headed toward the gate. "The weather's turning nastyтАФin you
go."

Randal took his time getting out of the quilted practice
armor; he wanted to see who was coming just as much as Sir
Palamon did. These days, with no true king in the land and the
great nobles fighting for power, not many people traveled the
roads alone.

The newcomer wasn't much to look at: a man about forty
years old with a short dark beard, carrying a walking staff
taller than he was. He wore a loose shirt of faded yellow linen
and a rough kilt of gray wool, belted around his waist and
folded up over one shoulder. He's a long way from home,
thought Randal. Only the half-civilized tribesmen of the north
country dressed like that.

Indeed, when the stranger spoke, his accent had a northern
lilt. "Greetings to you! Madoc the Wayfarer, at your service."

Sir Palamon looked the stranger up and down. "And what
sort of service might that be?"