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

Ethics! he reminded himself. To dig into another man's thoughts was a despicable abuse of power.


And that, evidently, had completed the introductions, for he had reached Centurion Hardgraa, picketing the door like a granite monolith. Hardgraa
he had already met.


Eight men, two women, and a sleeping child. Time to get down to business.


Time to deliver the useless warning he had brought too late. The doughty Countess Eigaze was still standing, and that would not do. "Do be seated,
my lady," Rap said. Ignoring more imperial frowns from Shandie, he arranged the company, with the women and old Sagorn on the seats.


The imperor settled on the arm of his wife's chair. His manner was chilly, but he was tolerating the upstart, although he must know that Rap was
baiting him a little. Would he be willing to listen to reason, or would he flare into an autocratic rage? He had already flouted a warlock's warnings,
so what argument would convince an accomplished warrior that he must flee from his city immediately? How could anyone persuade a newly
succeeded monarch to give up his throne and run?


Rap leaned back against the fireplace and surveyed the room. They were wary, all of them. Now what?


"I bring no good tidings," he said. But that was not quite true, for things could be worse. "The only cheerful news I can give you is that I detect no
magic on any of you-no loyalty spells or occult glamours or any abominations like that. I can't be quite certain, because a better sorcerer could
deceive me. "


"You are modest, your Majesty," Sagorn said acidly.


"No, Doctor. I admit that I had great powers once, but not now. I'm not going to try to explain that at the moment. Perhaps never." Seeing that the
old jotunn did not believe him, Rap turned back to the imperor. "I shall do what little I can, Shandie, but magically it will be very small. If you are
expecting me to solve things, then you will be disappointed."


"I see," the imperor said. He was not convinced either, although he was trying to hide his doubts. He did indeed expect Rap to solve things.


Well, Rap was not going to use sorcery to persuade them. "I do not even know the name or nature of the enemy. Does anyone?"


"Sir Acopulo?" Shandie.said. "You are our advisor in such matters. "


"Speculation upon insufficient data is invariably hazardous. As a working hypothesis . . ." The little man looked like a priest, but he sounded more
like a schoolmaster. His ideas of warden behavior seemed improbable even to Rap, whose experience of the Four would let him believe almost
anything of them. Sagorn was making no attempt to conceal his mounting skepticism, and eventually his disdainful sneer registered on Acopulo.