"Raymond E. Feist - Conclave of Shadows 3 - Exile's Return" - читать интересную книгу автора (Feist Raymond E)

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Raymond E. Feist




ExileтАЩs Return



CHAPTER ONE
Captive
THE RIDERS CAME AT HIM.
Kaspar, who had until the day before held the title of Duke of Olasko, waited,
holding his chains ready. Moments before he had been deposited on this dusty plain
by a tall white-haired magician who, with only a few words of farewell, had vanished,
leaving the exiled nobleman to face an approaching band of nomads.
Kaspar had never felt this alive and vitalized. He grinned, took a deep breath and
flexed his knees. The riders were fanning out, and Kaspar knew they judged him a
risk even though he stood alone, barefoot and without any weapon save for heavy
chains with manacles and leggings attached to each end.
The riders slowed. Kaspar counted six of them. They wore alien garments, loose-
fitting outer robes of indigo over white blouses belted at the waist with whipcord;
ballooning trousers were tucked into black leather boots. Their heads were covered by
wrapped turbans, with a length of cloth left hanging on the right. Kaspar judged that
this could be quickly raised to cover mouth and nose against a sudden dust storm or to
hide identity. The clothing looked less like a uniform than tribal garb, he decided.
And they carried a variety of lethal-looking weapons.
The leader spoke in a language Kaspar didn't understand, though there was
something oddly familiar about it. Kaspar replied, 'I don't suppose there's the remotest
chance you speak Olaskon?'
The man Kaspar had identified as the leader said something to his companions,
made a gesture, then sat back to watch. Two men dismounted and approached Kaspar,
drawing weapons. A third behind them unwound a leather cord, with which he obvi-
ously intended to bind their new captive.
Kaspar let his chains drop slightly, and slumped his shoulders, as if
acknowledging the inevitability of his circumstances. From the manner in which they
approached, Kaspar knew two things: these were experienced fighting menтАФtough,
sunburned plainsmen who probably lived in tentsтАФand they were not trained soldiers.
One glance gave Kaspar the one fact he needed to make his decision on how to act.
None of the three men still on horseback had drawn a bow.
Kaspar allowed the man with the leather bindings to approach, and then at the
last instant he kicked out, taking the man in the chest. That man was the least
dangerous of the three at hand. Kaspar then swung his chains, releasing an end at the
same instant, and the swordsman on his right who had judged himself out of Kaspar's