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

"As I recall Raspnex," Rap said, "he sounds like a major rock slide at close quarters. Would you permit me to jog your memory?"


He saw the horrified expression that darkness was supposed to hide, but the old count's voice was quite steady as he said, "By all means do so,
Sire."


The amount of power needed was infinitesimal, little more than the charm dispensed by a fairground hypnotist. Minds were easy to influence.


"Good Gods!" the count said. "I ... Bless my soul! Er ... Would you consider quoting me a price on reviving the rest of my memories, also, your
Majesty?"


"I'm not sure you'd thank me. Everything might be a little too much."


"Yes ... I see the danger." Still blinking, Ionfeu chuckled uneasily and again tried to make himself more comfortable on the bench. "What Warlock
Raspnex said before he vanished was, `Now flee, Emshandar! Take your wife and your child and begone, for the city is no longer safe for you. The
Protocol is overthrown, and Chaos rules the world!' That's it exactly!"


His wife smiled uncertainly at him and fumbled for his hand to squeeze. "And then the four thrones all exploded as if they'd been hit by
thunderbolts," she said, "simultaneously! Whatever message that was supposed to convey, I do feel it was expressed with rather vulgar intensity."


"Thank you," Rap said grimly, although he had learned little new. Without the Protocol to control the political use of sorcery, the world would
become a place of nightmare and horror.


The carriage rumbled to a halt alongside the others. A bronzeclad arm reached up to open the door.



2

The willowy Hussars in their dandified uniforms stood smartly at attention, but a sorcerer could sense their aura of sulky disapproval. Even more
than the foul weather and slummy neighborhood, they resented being under the command of a non-Praetorian. Centurion Hardgraa's shiny bronze
breastplate bore the lion insignia of the XIIth Legion. That had been old Emshandar's outfit and young Shandie's, also.


The centurion was a gnarled hulk of a man, who glared with dark suspicion at the stranger. His nose had been broken at least once, and the thick
torso under his armor bore many old scars. When Rap was introduced, however, his ugly face at once broke into a wide grin. He saluted sharply.
Apparently he had brains to go with his bulk, as was to be expected of a prince's bodyguard.




file:///G|/Program%20Files/eMule/Incoming/Da...l%20Of%20Men%202%20-%20Upland%20Outlaws.html (5 of 190) [10/16/2004 3:23:05 PM]
 Upland Outlaws