"Duncan, Dave - Impossible Odds v1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

Elson went round to the front and took up his position. Just when
had the spirits decreed that he must stand out here freezing in the
dark to guard some rich foreign slob he had never met, a stuck-up
slob who wouldnТt ever give him as much as a nod of thanks? That
same slob was upstairs right now swingeing some slutty twigger!
Why didnТt Nolly just tell him to go off home, or go off and find his
girl, whatever bed she was in?

Nolly gave the signal again.

Count three...

For variety this time, as they were about to pass in the middle of
the step, Elson pushed his dagger into NollyТs left eye. Nolly
dropped his halberd. He didnТt fall down. He just leaned forward
and made little whimpering sounds as he watched the thin stream
of blood trickling off the hilt of the dagger and splashing on his
boots.

The overhead light was too bright for the next bit. Elson walked
unsteadily down the steps. Then he swung his own halberd
horizontal and held it with both hands so he could cut his throat.
The process was not as painless as he had hoped. He should
have kept the edge sharper.

Nolly stopped trickling and stopped complaining. He stumped
down the steps and headed around to the back of the house,
looking for Blaccalf.

Elson finished dying and walked back up, then in through the front
door. ***

11 Impossible Odds

The Blades approved of Quamast House because they knew that
any questionable guests billeted there would not go sneaking out
any secret passages. No assassins were going to sneak in, either.
When it had been built by King Ambrose, the Guard Commander
had been the great Durendal, now Grand Master, and he had made
sure that it was built right. With the outer doors and windows
securely barred, as they were, Valiant and his little squad had
nothing to do except stay awake at the bottom of the staircase.
From there they had a clear view of the upstairs balcony and the
doors to all the bedrooms.

It was an easy chore and tonight they even had a rookie with them,
who must be introduced to some of the fiendish dice games the
Blades employed to while away their stints. No charge for
instruction. IOUs accepted without limit. Some recruits needed
years to pay off their initiations.