"Eddings, David - Malloreon 3 - Demon Lord Of Karanda" - читать интересную книгу автора (Eddings David)

"Do you mind, Grandfather?" Garion said acidly.

"Besides, it might just be that we're supposed to go to Rak
Hagga and meet with Kal Zakath. Why would Cyradis turn us
over to the Malloreans, after she went to all the trouble of putting
The Book of Ages into my hands? There's something else
going on here, and I'm not sure we want to disrupt things until
we find out a little more about them."

The cabin door opened, and General Atesca, the commander
of the Mallorean forces occupying the Isle of Verkat, emerged.
From the moment they had been turned over to him, Atesca had
been polite and strictly correct in all his dealings with them. He
had also been very firm about his intention to deliver them
personally to Kal Zakat in Rak Hagga. He was a tall, lean man,
and his uniform was bright scarlet, adorned with numerous
medals and decorations. He carried himself with erect dignity,
though the fact that his nose had been broken at some time in
the past made him look more like a street brawler than a general
in an imperial army. He came up the slush-covered deck,
heedless of his highly polished boots.

"Good morning, gentlemen," he greeted them with a stiff,
military bow. "I trust you slept well?"

"Tolerably," Silk replied.

"It seems to be snowing," the general said, looking about and
speaking in the tone of one making small talk for the sake of
courtesy.

"I noticed that," Silk said. "How long is it likely to take us to reach
Rak Hagga?"

" A few more hours to reach the coast, your Highness, and then
a two-day ride to the city."

Silk nodded. "Have you any idea why your Emperor wants to
see us?" he asked.

"He didn't say," Atesca answered shortly, "and I didn't think it
appropriate to ask. He merely told me to apprehend you and to
bring you to him at Rak Hagga. You are all to be treated with
utmost courtesy as long as you don't try to escape. If you do
that, his Imperial Majesty instructed me to be more firm." His
tone as he spoke was neutral, and his face remained
expressionless. "I hope you gentlemen will excuse me now,"
he, said. "I have some matters that need my attention." He
bowed curtly, turned, and left them.