"Watt-Evans,.Lawrence.-.Ethshar.4.-.The.Blood.of.a.Dragon.2" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dragon Stories)

The Blood of a Dragon [A Legend of Ethshar]


Chapter One
The boy stared eagerly down into the Arena, chewing his lip in anticipation. The
horse races were over, and as a foretaste of what was to come the sands were
being raked smooth by magic.
The rakes themselves were the same perfectly ordinary wooden rakes that had been
dragged back and forth across the sand by perfectly ordinary people before each
race. Now, however, the rakes were moving by themselves, as if held in invisible
hands, and the slaves, or servants, or whoever the people were who were
responsible for the Arena's maintenance, were nowhere to be seen.
Dumery wondered whether the rakes had been animated somehow, or whether they
were being wielded by sylphs or sprites or demons, or whether the servants had
been turned invisible. Magic could do so many amazing things!
The rakes were all painted bright blue, and he wondered if that was important.
Did the magic in use here only work on blue things? He knew that magic could
have peculiar requirements. Or were the rakes blue because the Lord of the Arena
had taken blue and gold as his colors?
Or perhaps, had he taken his colors from the golden sand, and the blue rakes and
other fittings?
Or was there some other reason entirely?
There were so many things that he didn't know! He had read everything he could
find about magic, but that wasn't much; he had asked questions of everyone he
knew, but he knew no wizards, nor witches or warlocks or sorcerers or any other
sort of wonder-worker. He had occasionally met a magician or two, and had always
asked questions, but he hadn't always gotten answers.
The rest of the time he just asked whoever was handy, even though they weren't
magicians. Sometimes they had answers anyway, sometimes they didn't, so he just
kept trying.
УDad,Ф he asked, Уwhy are the rakes blue?Ф
Startled out of a contemplative half-doze, Doran of Shiphaven let the front legs
of his chair drop heavily to the floor of the family box, rattling the gold
chain that draped across his velvet-clad chest. Rings clicked against wood as he
gripped the arm of the chair and turned to stare at his son.
УWhat?Ф he asked.
УThose rakes out there,Ф Dumery said, pointing. УWhy are they all painted blue?Ф
On his left, Dumery's sister Dessa, a year older than he, giggled into her
hands. Their two older brothers, noticing the noise, peered over from their
father's right side to see what the fuss was about.
УSo they won't rot, I suppose,Ф Doran said, puzzled, Уor to keep down the
splinters.Ф
УBut whyblue?" Dumery persisted. УWhy not red, or green? Brown wouldn't show the
dirt as much, or if theywant to see the dirt then white would be better. Why
blue?Ф
After a baffled pause, his father admitted, УI don't have the faintest idea.Ф
Derath leaned over, smirking, and said, УIt's to match your eyes, Dumery!Ф
УMy eyes are green, stupid!Ф Dumery retorted. УMaybe you'd better have an
herbalist checkyour eyes if you don't know that!Ф
УOh,I know that,Ф Derath said sweetly, Уbut the Lord of the Arena doesn't!Ф He