"Raymond E. Feist - Legends Of The Riftwar - Jimmy The Hand" - читать интересную книгу автора (Feist Raymond E)

to another location and reprovisioned.

Sunlight began to bathe Arutha as the morning mist burned off, leaving
only the smoke and dust to cloud the air. The day was already growing
hot, and the cold of the previous winter was fading from memory. Arutha
kept his distress deep inside as he considered the latest assault upon
the tranquillity of his Kingdom.

Arutha had taken the Tsurani magicians at face value after the end of
the Riftwar. For nearly ten years they had been free to come and go
between worlds, via several magic rifts. And now he felt a profound
sense of betrayal. He fully understood the rationale that had driven
Makala, a Tsurani Great One, to attempt to seize the Lifestone at
Sethanon, the belief that the Kingdom possessed a great weapon of
destruction, some engine of power that would give predominance in war to
whoever held it. Had he been in Makala s place, with the same
suspicions, he might have acted in the same way. But even so, he could
not trust the Tsurani to be loose in the Kingdom, and that meant an end


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to almost a decade of trade and exchange. Arutha pushed aside worry as
to how he would effect the changes he must make, but he knew that
eventually he would have to sit down with his advisors and fashion a
plan that would ensure future security for the Kingdom. And he knew
almost no one would be pleased at the changes he would make.

Arutha glanced to his right and saw two very fatigued young men sitting
astride their horses. He permitted himself one of

3 his infrequent smiles, a bare upturning of the sides of his mouth,
which served to soften the often somber expression on his still-youthful
face. "Tired, gentlemen? " he asked.

James, senior squire to the Prince, returned his ruler s gaze from eyes
surrounded by dark circles. James, and his companion Squire Locklear,
had ridden a punishing ride, abetted by magic herbs which had kept them
awake and alert for days in the saddle. The after-effects of the
prolonged use of the draught was to unleash all the pent-up fatigue and
body-ache on the young men at once. Both had slept through the night,
upon cushions in Arutha s tent, but had awakened tired and bone-weary.
Summoning up his usual brazen wit, James said, "No, sire, we always look
like this when we wake. Usually you don t see us until after our morning
coffee. " Arutha laughed. "I see none of your charms have faded, squire.
" A short man with dark hair and beard walked over to where the Prince
and his companions sat astride their horses.

"Good morning, Highness, " said Pug, as he bowed.