"Dave Duncan - A Handful Of Men 2 - Upland Outlaws" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

Not likely! Not only might that move be suicidally dangerous, but it would envelop them all in a swamp of courtly pomp and protocol, and Rap had
no intention of enduring any of that rigmarole. Granted, Shandie had been born to the purple, and the king of Krasnegar was only an erstwhile
stableboy with a knack for magic, but even with his sorcerous abilities pruned to a stump of what they once had been, in the present circumstances
he must still be the senior partner. He would have to convince Shandie of that as soon as possible.


"This is an excellent place for a confidential meeting," Rap said firmly. "The building is shielded against sorcery. It is one of the most private
locales in the city, and I vouch for Doctor Sagom's discretion. " He noticed the old jotunn's frosty eyebrows shoot upward at that remark. "No, let us
discuss the problem here before we go anywhere else. "


The imperor glowered. "Very well. However, we may not need quite so large an audience."


The fat man's face sagged like warm butter. Rap was amused at that telltale reaction-and still determined to have his own way. He thrust out a hand.
"My name's Rap."


Shandie capitulated. "I have the honor," he said icily, "to present Lord Umpily, our chief of protocol."


Umpily beamed, agog with excitement at these untoward events. Imps were notoriously inquisitive people, but he clearly had the trait in excess.
Whatever his official title, he was more likely Shandie's chief of intelligence, the imperial gossipmonger.


"Sir Acopulo, political advisor . . ." The next aide was a diminutive, wizened man with a priestly air to him. His eyes were as bright as a bird's.
Sensing a sharp mind there, Rap tentatively assessed him as the strategist of the group.


Then came a strikingly handsome youngster in armor, bedecked with a signifer's wolfskin cape. His grip was firm, his manner confident, his smile
faultless. Rap chided himself for being prejudiced-good looks were not necessarily a drawback in a man, and Signifer Ylo was entitled to his self-
esteem if he was at once a military hero, the sole survivor of his clan, and a trusted confidant of the new imperor. Face and physique had not won
him all that.


As he turned away, idly wondering how the unscrupulously handsome Andor was wearing his years now, Rap detected a sudden wash of fright. The
youngster's cheerful smirk hardly wavered, yet something close to guilt had flared up in Signifer Ylo, some remembered secret he did not want to
reveal to a sorcerer. His heart was thumping at twice its former beat.


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 Upland Outlaws



For a moment Rap was sorely tempted to pry ...