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

strutted so haughtily only moments before, looked back and forth and then toward Okmark.

тАЬDo you want it?тАЭ Okmark said softly and, as he spoke, he stepped back into the neutral square at the
edge of the circle, indicating his willingness to fight again. Gray hesitated and then, with an angry curse,
he reached into his satchel, pulled out an amulet, and threw it to the ground at OrangeтАЩs feet. Turning, he
fled the circle, pummeled by the crowd, who showered him with curses, mud, offal, and kicks.

Okmark, with a disdainful gesture, reached down and picked up the amulet that had controlled the spell
of the undead. He looked over at the boy holding his cloak and took it back. The boy stood waiting,
expecting a reward, but Orange ignored him.

The crowd was silent and Garth looked around. The gambler had moved to one side of the Orange
fighter and Garth saw the flicker of recognition between the two.

Garth moved to the edge of the circle.

тАЬPay the boy for his services,тАЭ Garth said, his voice carrying through arguments breaking out around the
circle as the mob hotly discussed the fight they had just witnessed.

Orange looked over at Garth and instantly there was silence.

тАЬYou pay him if you care so much about it,тАЭ Orange replied.

тАЬIf you donтАЩt feel like paying him,тАЭ Garth said, a smile creasing his features, тАЬperhaps your friend over
there might spare some of the money you won.тАЭ As he spoke Garth pointed at the gambler.

All eyes turned on the gambler, who stood silent for a moment. The man finally reached into his purse,
pulled out a silver coin, and threw it into the circle.

тАЬYour winnings, One-eye,тАЭ the gambler announced. тАЬTake it and pay him with that.тАЭ

Without hesitating, Garth stepped into the circle and a low gasp echoed through the crowd. The raggedy
man started to dance excitedly.

тАЬHe stepped into the circle; a challenge, a challenge!тАЭ

The crowd started to pick up the chant and the gambler smiled.

Garth leaned down, picked the coin up, and, wiping the mud off, pocketed it.

тАЬI still believe you owe the boy a reward,тАЭ Garth said.

Okmark looked at him with a cool, superior disdain.

тАЬSpoken in the circle, thatтАЩs a challenge,тАЭ Okmark replied. тАЬI think, One-eye, that itтАЩd be safer for you
to leave now before you get hurt.тАЭ

Garth slowly took his cloak off and, as he did so, he stepped backward into the square at the edge of the
circle. He held his cloak out and saw that the boy he had been arguing about was there to take it.