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

Garth snorted disdainfully and took another sip of his drink.

тАЬBut youтАЩre a fighter, not a pickpocket. The way you killed Okmark of Fentesk, a masterful reversal, a
rare spell, only a true adept controls such power. He had fourteen wins in the arena and was at least a
third-rank. How did a No House like you obtain such a spell?тАЭ And as he spoke the raggedy man
looked down at GarthтАЩs spell satchel with open curiosity as if he was struggling with the temptation to
tear it away and look inside.

Garth looked up from his drink and fixed the raggedy man with his gaze.

The raggedy man extended his hands in mock horror and recoiled backward.

тАЬNever ask a fighter where his victories and powers are won,тАЭ the raggedy man said. тАЬI know, I know
the customs.тАЭ

One of the old men came over to the table and dropped a silver plate down in front of Garth while
another brought over a roasted duck from the fire. Garth cut away a leg and munched on it meditatively.

тАЬYouтАЩre hungry, thatтАЩs obvious,тАЭ the raggedy man chortled, watching as Garth sliced meat away from the
bird and hurriedly popped the hot slices into his mouth, washing them down with another goblet of wine.

тАЬAre you master of this brotherhood?тАЭ Garth asked between bites.

The raggedy man laughed and extended his arms wide as if beckoning Garth to view his domain.

тАЬMy brothers here and others hiding in other hovels. The loyal order of pickpockets, with a lineage as
august as any of the fighting Houses and just as ancient. And, might I add, with far more honesty.тАЭ

тАЬHowтАЩs that?тАЭ

тАЬThe fighting Houses, Fentesk, Kestha, Bolk, and Ingkara, they claim to be the upholders of honor.
They are nothing but harlots.тАЭ The others in the room grunted their agreement. тАЬSince the night Zarel
became Grand Master of all the colors they think of but one thing, the profits to be won by their powers,
the mana to be drawn from the lands to support their spells, and the common people pay the price. At
least we are honest about it all; we steal and we admit we steal; thus we are honorable men in
comparison. At least we do not hide behind the mouthing of platitudes that have lost all meaning.тАЭ

The others in the room fell into a solid round of cursing, the insane man without hands cackling out an
obscene song about the Grand Master while hugging a goblet that had been fashioned so that he could
pick it up with the stumps of his arms.

Garth ate the rest of his meal in silence, listening to the old men pour out their hatred and anger. Finishing
the duck, he meditatively picked his teeth with a bit of bone, slid his stool back, and stood up.

тАЬThank you the for the meal, old man. I think itтАЩs time I moved along.тАЭ

тАЬYou have a place here for the night.тАЭ

тАЬWhy?тАЭ