"William Forstchen - Magic The Gathering - Arena" - читать интересную книгу автора (Forstchen William R)

Garth looked into his assailantтАЩs eyes, seeing the fear, smelling his fetid breath. He flicked his dagger,
making a small cut under the manтАЩs chin, then released him, the old man howling with pain, while the
others in the room roared with delight.
тАЬYouтАЩll do just fine,тАЭ the raggedy man said, motioning for Garth to come over and sit by the fire.

тАЬNo more tricks now, I swear it by the honor of my brotherhood.тАЭ

The other old men in the room laughed and Garth looked around at them. Most of them looked like
scarecrows, several were missing fingers, a few their right hands; one of them sitting by the fire was
missing both.

тАЬPickpockets and cutpurses?тАЭ Garth asked. тАЬIтАЩm to take the word of the brotherhood of pickpockets?тАЭ

The raggedy man laughed.

тАЬBelieve me, No House, itтАЩs as good as the word of any of the fighting Houses.тАЭ

There was a murmured chorus of agreement, as if Garth had just offered the most grievous of insults for
doubting his host.

The old man motioned Garth to sit down and a moment later a fine goblet was placed before him, the
raggedy man lifting a heavy jug from under the table and filling his guestтАЩs goblet with wine and then filling
his own. Garth took the drink and tasted it.

тАЬBorleian,тАЭ Garth said, obviously surprised.

тАЬAh, you know your grapes.тАЭ

тАЬHow did you get such a good vintage?тАЭ

тАЬHow does a No House, a hanin, know such a vintage?тАЭ

тАЬIтАЩve been around a bit.тАЭ

The raggedy man put his own goblet down and looked appraisingly at Garth.

тАЬHow old are you?тАЭ

Garth smiled and said nothing.

тАЬHard to tell with one who can control the mana; you could be twenty-five as you look, or you could be
near to a hundred. IтАЩm willing to bet twenty-five.тАЭ

тАЬAm I supposed to answer you?тАЭ

The raggedy man shook his head.

тАЬAs a hanin you know itтАЩs suicide to be in this city during Festival. You have no colors and the Grand
Master forbids any mana user without colors to be in his city on pain of death.тАЭ