"Dave Duncan - The Seventh Sword - 2 - The Coming Of Wisdom" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

her remain in the cottage and she provided basic fareтАФsacks of meal and
sometimes even meat. She sent small gifts once in a while: sandals not too badly
worn, leftover delicacies from the kitchen.
If the swordsmen did know about the sorcerersтАФif they were planning an attack on
OvтАФthen there must be a whole army of them.
Floundering in the darkness, she almost walked into a vague shape standing
square in her path, waiting for her.
She yelped and jumped backward, losing a shoe. "Priestess!" she squealed. Then
she managed a slightly lower: "I am a priestess!"
"Good!" said a youth's soft tenor. "And I am a swordsman. In what way may I be
of service, holy lady?"


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ft
It was an absurd situation. Standing on one leg in the dark, with her heart
still bounding wildly from the surprise, Quili could yet appreciate the
absurdityтАФneither she nor the stranger could see the other's rank. Who saluted
and who responded? But of course swordsmen would never send a mere First to
scout, nor a Second either. He must outrank her.
So she made the greeting to a superior, managing not to fall over, even in the
final bow: "I am Quili, priestess of the second rank, and it is my deepest and
most humble wish that the Goddess Herself will see fit to grant you long life
and happiness and to induce you to accept my modest and willing service in any
way in which I may advance any of your noble purposes."
The swordsman retreated one pace, and she heard, rather than saw, his sword whip
from the scabbard on his back. She almost lost her balance again, before
remembering that swordsmen had their own rituals, flailing their blades around
in salute.
"I am Nnanji, swordsman of the fourth rank, and am honored to accept your
gracious service."
DAVE DUNCAN 9
The sword shot back into its scabbard again with a hiss and a click. Random had
not handled his so slickly.
"Do you always stand on one foot, apprentice?"
She had not thought he would have been able to see. "I've lost a shoe, adept."
He chuckled and moved, and she felt a firm grip on her ankle. "Here it is.
Stupid-looking thing!" Then her foot was pushed back where it belonged, and the
swordsman straightened up.
"Thank you. You see very well..."
"I do most things very well," he remarked cheerfully. He sounded so young, like
a boy. Could he really be a Fourth? "Now, where is this, apprentice?"
"The estate of the Honorable Garathondi, adept."
The swordsman grunted softly. "What craft?"
"He is a builder."
"And what does a builder of the Sixth build? Wfell, never mind. How many
swordsmen on mis estate?"
"None, adept."