"Frankowski,.Leo.-.Conrad.Starguard.3.-.Radiant.Warrior" - читать интересную книгу автора (Frankowski Leo)

"It has been that. Think! A year ago today was the first time I'd met
you. One might say it's our anniversary. A year ago yesterday you
killed that brigand, Sir Rheinburg, who had been infesting my lands
and killing my people. And three days ago you killed Sir Adolf right
here on my tourney field. Counting your battle with the Crossmen
on my trail, that makes three fights in one year!" He had chosen
black and was moving his pieces out in the Dragon variation that I
had made the mistake of showing him.

"More than that, my lord, depending on what you call a fight. By the
time I got here, I had been involved in four separate acts of
violence." There wasn't much I could do about his opening but
make the standard replies.

Seeing his eyebrow raise at "four," I said, "There was my first run-
in with Sir Adolf where he bashed me in the head. Then one night
on the river at Cracow, Tadaos the boatman killed three thieves
who were trying to murder him. You know about the irate creditor
on your trail, and the fight with Sir Rheinburg's band of hoodlums.
The fight with the whoremasters' guild in Cieszyn took out three of
the thugs, and against those child molesters, Sir Vladimir and I
killed or maimed six out of the seven Crossmen."

"I guess I can't count the incident at the ferry at Cracow last
summer, since it started when I got a rock on the side of my head
and it was over before I got my wits back. The rabies victim wasn't
a fight. He had me so scared that I killed him out of fright. It was
simple murder." The opening was over, and Count Lambert was
moving from a Sicilian defense into a strong center position.

"That last thing you mentioned, this 'rabies victim,' was a vampire.
They must be killed. You did right, Sir Conrad. But think, in about a
year you have been in what?-say ten bits of action. You forgot your
brawl with Sir Stefan. Do you realize that I haven't had the chance
to draw my sword in earnest in four years? And I must spend a
third of my time on the road."

"True, my lord, but you always travel in the company of a dozen
armored knights." Now what the devil was I going to do about that
damn bishop?

"Dog's blood, but you're right! From now on I'll travel in simple garb
and I'll travel alone! Let the rest follow an hour behind! That ought
to get some action going."

"My lord, I was just talking idly, trying to get your mind off your
chess. I never meant to get you killed!" I was being forced into the
comers where I couldn't maneuver.

"Well, damn the chess! I know! I'll fill two saddlebags with silver,