"Tracy Falbe - The Rys Chronicles 1 - Union of Renegades" - читать интересную книгу автора (Falbe Tracy)

Kwan smiled because the Wilderness intrigued him as well. When he
had conquered all the rich kingdoms outside Atrophane, his attention had
turned to the mysterious lands beyond the known lands of Ektren. If he
could take what belonged to any man, he could certainly take what
belonged to no man.
тАЬSoon the secrets of the Wilderness in the west will be known in
Atrophane,тАЭ Kwan predicted confidently. тАЬAnd the maps will have to be
remade.тАЭ
тАЬYou have remade maps before, my Lord,тАЭ Dreibrand said.
Kwan admired how Dreibrand always knew when to add an endearing
comment.
тАЬAnd what will you do with the rest of your day?тАЭ Kwan asked.
Dreibrand had wanted to talk about the Wilderness more, but if the
Lord General wanted to change the subject, then it had to be that way.
Dreibrand considered his answer carefully, knowing KwanтАЩs question was
a test. In these private meetings Kwan often coached his young lieutenant,
and Dreibrand appreciated the guidance.
Hoping Kwan would think his activity suitable, Dreibrand replied, тАЬI
plan to speak with some of the captives. Learn information about the area,
and practice their language.тАЭ
With approval Kwan nodded. DreibrandтАЩs skill with language had often
been indispensable because trustworthy interpreters were hard to come by
in enemy territory.
тАЬIf you learn anything interesting, report back,тАЭ Kwan instructed.
тАЬOf course, my Lord,тАЭ Dreibrand said. тАЬDo you have any other orders?тАЭ
тАЬNot for now. Let the men rest. We will move out soon,тАЭ Kwan said.
 DreibrandтАЩs eyes lit up with excitement, but before he could raise the
subject of the Wilderness again, Kwan dismissed him.
Dreibrand spent the rest of that day examining captives. The courtyard
of the ransacked fortress made a gloomy setting in the late day sun. People
had been chained and separated by sex into groups. Almost two hundred
Bostas had been taken prisoner during the fighting. The others had died
or fled west into the hills. Just as many Atrophane soldiers milled around
the courtyard, plus the civilian slavers who followed the Horde.
Dreibrand studied the captives at length. He could see that they hated
him. The harshness of defeat was still fresh, and none of them would want
to talk to him. He would have to find a way to insure a productive
conversation.
Dreibrand entered the guardhouse beside the broken gate, stepping
over a dramatic splash of blood that stained the threshold. Earlier, he had
pointed out his first two captives and instructed his men to bring the man
in first.
A tall wiry man was brought inside the front room. Dreibrand sat at a
table, and the soldiers pushed the prisoner into a chair across from the
Atrophane lieutenant. The chains on his wrists clanged against the table.
A plate of food waited in front of the prisoner, but he did not touch it. His
skin was dirty and his hands were still trembling after his futile exertions
to defend his homeland.
тАЬThe food is good,тАЭ Dreibrand said. He knew the food thing was a
simple ploy, but sometimes it worked very well with prisoners. The