"Elenium 02 - The Ruby Knight" - читать интересную книгу автора (Eddings David)

Then he heard furtive footsteps behind him in the fog,
and he stepped into a recessed doorway and stood very
still.
There were two of them, and they wore nondescript
clothing. 'Can you still see him?' one of them whispered
to the other.
'No. This fog's getting thicker. He's just ahead of us,
though.'
'Are you sure he's a Pandion?'
When you've been in this business as long as I have,
you'll learn to recognize them. It's the way they walk and
the way they hold their shoulders. He's a Pandion all
right.'
"whats he doing out in the street at this time of night?'
That's what we're here to find out. The Primate wants
reports on all their movements.'
The notion of trying to sneak up behind a Pandion on
a foggY night makes me just a little nervous. They all use
magic, and they can feel you coming. I'd rather not get
his sword in my guts. Did you ever see his face?'
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Eddings, David - Elenium 2 - The Ruby Knight.txt
"no. He had his hood up, so his face was in shadow.'
The two of them kept on up the street, unaware of the
fact that their lives had hung in the balance for a moment.
Had either of them seen Sparhawk's face, they would
have died on the spot. Sparhawk was a very pragmatic
man about thingS like that. He waited until he could no
longer hear their footfalls. Then he retraced his steps to
an intersection and went up a side street.
The tavern was empty except for the owner, who
dozed with his feet up on a table and with his hands
clasped over his paunch. He was a stout, unshaven man
wearing a dirty smock.
"Good evening, neighbour,' Sparhawk said quietly as
he entered.
The tavern-keeper opened one eye. 'Morning is more
like it,' he grunted.
Sparhawk looked around. The tavern was a fairly
typical working-man's place with a low, beamed ceiling
smudged with smoke and with a utilitarian counter
across the back. The chairs and benches were scarred,
and the sawdust on the floor had not been swept up and
replaced for months. "It seems to be a slow night,' he
noted in his quiet voice.
"It's always slow this late, friend. What's your
pleasure?'
'Arcian red - if you've got any.'
'Arcium's hip-deep in red grapes. Nobody ever runs
out of Arcian red.' With a weary sigh the tavern-keeper