"Clayton Emery - Forgotten Realms - Forged In Fire" - читать интересную книгу автора (Emery Clayton)

fish-mongering.

So, sighed Heart of a Lion, he better make some captainly decisions before
the crew entertained doubts. Stumping around the deck, he checked the
million details a mariner must attend at all times. The two ships were still
linked by iron and hemp. The tide was flowing, so they drifted safely away
from the rocks of Tharsult. The day was barely begun (and his ample
stomach growled for breakfast), so they had plenty of light to work by, but
what to do next? Should he order some of these mysterious barrels
transferred to Shark's Fang, or just jettison them? Without this heavy load,
the weed-encrusted Eight Lightnings would ride higher. Perhaps by painting
out the name and sailing her to Suldolphon, they could gain a quick profit
that might satisfy the crew. Unless the ship had already visited Suldolphon,
where it would be recognized --

"Ho, Captain! Our pardon, but the pink tiger demands to speak to you!"
Braced by two brawny pirates, scorched, bloody, and dazed, the marine
lieutenant was still undefeated. She snarled at the pirate chief like a rabid
tiger. "Are you mad? Why are you fools doing this?"

Perplexed, Heart of a Lion asked, "Doing what? Raiding ships? What do you
expect pirates to do?"

"Ptah!" The lieutenant spat dried blood off a split lip. Having been clubbed
upside the head, she strained to focus. "I am Lieutenant Belinda Destine of
the Caleph's Imperial Marines! Are you really the pirates' captain? How can
that be, a quivering tub of lard fat as a manatee?"
"Did you never hear of Heart of a Lion?" he asked with great dignity. "The
boldest pirate of the Trackless Sea, fearless and feared up and down the
Sword Coast? Who in the Year of the Shadows stole the Tethyrn tribute
ship from under the Syl-Pasha's very nose? Who, during the Darkstalker
Wars, looted the bottomless coffers of the Dark Dagger's stronghold,
carrying off the Goblin King's crown before Ralan El Pesarkhal even knew it
was gone?" Out of breath, the pirate chief paused, then patted his great
girth. "Admittedly, those adventures occurred before you were born. But my
mighty mind is ever-sharp and even today my name strikes terror --"

"Shut up, you blithering baboon!" The officer snarled in a parade ground
voice. "Haven't you heard, you sheepheaded shearwater? We're at war!"
"Oh. Again?" Heart of a Lion shrugged, both hands in the air. "Someone's
always at war, bless the dark dabblings of Shar. War is good. Pirates
prosper when countries clash and supplies are shipped --"

"Not countries!" she barked. "The kingdoms of the coast are at war with
the deep! The swimming races vie against the speaking races! At every
coast fish-men and water-harpies and whales and whatnot spring from the
waves and scuttle ships and massacre shore-dwellers! No village or city
that touches water is safe from assault, nor any vessel!"

All the pirates, and sailors too, had gathered to hear the news. Her head