"03 - The Stricken Field 1.0." - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

present. His appearance had united dwarf and goblin for the first time that
night. They were all laughing.
"Sit here," Inos said, but he stepped around to stand behind her and huddled
close against her furs. He might freeze there, but he probably felt safer. His
hand grasped her shoulder and squeezed. She hoped that was meant as a sign of
encouragement.
There was a brief disturbance beyond the fire, then two burly goblins appeared,
dragging an unwilling captive between them. He seemed tall in this company, but
he was not big for an imp. His hands were bound behind him, his clothes hung in
tatters. Several days' growth of beard obscured his face, matted with old blood
and dirt. He was pitched forward at Death Bird's feet. He twisted slightly to
take the impact with a shoulder, but then he lay still.
Inos thought her heart would explode, it was beating so hard. This human refuse
could not be the man she had expected. Two, the goblin king had said-so this
might not be the one she wanted.
"Well?" Death Bird demanded. "What surprise? Will you offer to begin the sport?"
With a mouth almost too dry for speech, she said, "Lift him up."
The goblin gestured, the prisoner was hauled to his knees.
He saw Gath first. His eyes widened in disbelief and he uttered a cry. Then he
looked to Inos. She saw mortal despair flicker into unbearable hope.
They had not met since he was ten years old. She would never have recognized
him. But he knew her.
She did not trust herself to rise and stand erect. She could hardly curtsey to a
man on his knees, anyway. So she just smiled to assure him that she knew who he
was.
"Royal cousin ... your Excellency ... This is his Imperial Majesty, Emshandar V,
Imperor of Pandemia."
Death Bird looked to his right and bellowed. "Long Runner!"
An elderly goblin four or five places along had been picking his teeth with a
twig. He spat. "So it is." He stayed where he was and continued poking his
teeth.
Karax muttered something under his breath, but he had been exchanging glances
with one of the dwarves to his left. There were at least two sorcerers present,
then.
Shandie lurched to his feet, awkward in his bonds. His eyes were as wild as his
hair, but he seemed to have himself under control. "We meet again, Death Bird.
You had another name when last we met-and sometimes another face, also."
The great goblin tusks were showing again. Under his tattoos, Death Bird's
cheeks were turquoise with fury. He had been caught off guard in the presence of
his allies and senior deputies.
His voice came out as a dangerous low growl. "Explain, imp!"
Inos marveled at the prisoner's courage. A moment ago he must have been steeling
himself to die in long agony. Now a glimmer of a chance for life had put his
shoulders back and lifted his chin. He smiled grotesquely down at his seated
captors and shook his head.
"A private conference-you ... and the general. And Queen Inos, of course. I
bring news you should hear." "You make conditions?" The goblin was shivering,
his fingers hooked like claws. He could tear the prisoner in pieces with his
bare hands.
"I know you are not a fool, goblin." Shandie glanced around at the puzzled