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

heaped around their tents. Sparhawk, however, went
around to the back wall and carefully picked his way
through the deep, stake-studded fosse surrounding the
structure.
The rope down which he had clambered when he had
left the house was still dangling behind a concealing
bush. He shook it a few times to be certain the grappling
hook at its upper end was still firmly attached. Then he
tucked the war-spear under his sword-belt. He grasped
the rope and pulled down hard.
Above him, he could hear the points of the hook
grating into the stones of the battlement. He started to
climb up, hand over hand.
'Who's there?' The voice came sharply out of the fog
overhead. It was a youthful voice, and familiar.
Sparhawk swore under his breath. Then he felt a
tugging on the rope he was climbing. 'Leave it alone,
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Eddings, David - Elenium 2 - The Ruby Knight.txt
Berit,' he grated, straining to pull himself up.
"Sir Sparhawk?' the novice said in a startled voice.
'Don't jerk on the rope,' Sparhawk ordered. 'Those
stakes in the ditch are very sharp. '
'Let me help you up.'
"I can manage. Just don't displace that hook.' He
grunted as he heaved himself up over the battlement,
and Berit caught his arm to help him. Sparhawk was
sweating from his exertions. Climbing a rope when one is
wearing chain-mail can be very strenuous.
Berit was a novice Pandion who showed much
promise. He was a tall, raw-boned young man who was
wearing a mail-shirt and a plain, utilitarian cloak. He
carried a heavy bladed battle-axe in one hand. He was a
polite young fellow, so he did not ask any questions,
although his face was filled with curiosity. Sparhawk
looked down into the courtyard of the chapterhouse. By
the light of a flickering torch, he saw Kurik and Kalten.
Both of them were armed, and sounds from the stable
indicated that someone was saddling horses for them.
"don't go away,' he called down to them.
"what are you doing up there, Sparhawk?' Kalten
sounded surprised.
I thought I'd take up burglary as a sideline,' Sparhawk
replied drily. 'Stay there. I'll be right down. Come along,
'I'm supposed to be on watch, Sir Sparhawk.'
"We'll send somebody up to replace you. This is
important.' Sparhawk led the way along the parapet to
the steep stone stairs that led down into the courtyard.
"where have you been, Sparhawk?' Kurik demanded
angrily when the two had descended. Sparhawk's squire