"David Gemmel - The Damned 01 - White Wolf" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gemmel David)

The Damned - Book 1
White Wolf

David Gemmell



PROLOGUE


CAPHAS THE MERCHANT WAS FRIGHTENED AS THE STRANGER
approached his campfire in the woods to the north of the capital. Caphas
had picked the spot with care, in a hollow away from the road, so that his
fire would not be seen. Although the civil war was now ended, so great had
been the losses on both sides that there were few troops left to patrol the
wildlands, where renegades and deserters looted and stole. The merchant
had thought long and hard about this journey, but with so many of his
colleagues too terrified to enter the lands of Naashan he had seen an
opportunity for huge profits from his goods: silks from Chiatze and spices
from Sherak and Gothir. Now, as the full moon shone over the hollow,
those profits seemed a long way away.
The rider emerged from the tree line above the camp, and angled his
horse down the slope. The manтАЩs hairstyle - the lower part of the head
shaved clean, the upper hair swept into a fierce crest -showed him to be a
Naashanite swordmaster. Caphas began to relax. It was unlikely such a
man would prove to be a robber. There were far better ways for skilled
fighters to make money in this war-torn country than by waylaying
travelling merchants. The manтАЩs clothes further reinforced this judgement.
Though functional in appearance - a dark leather jerkin, the shoulders
edged with chain mail, leather leggings and high riding boots also
adorned with mail - they were richly made. His black horse was Ventrian
pure bred. Such beasts were rarely seen on the open market, but would sell
privately for between two hundred and four hundred gold raq. The rider
was quite clearly no thief. Thoughts of robbery drifted away, only to be
replaced by a fear of another kind.
 The man dismounted and walked to the fire. He moved with the grace
common to all swordsmen, thought Caphas, who rose to greet him. Up
close the rider was younger than Caphas had first thought. In his twenties.
His eyes were a piercing sapphire blue, his face handsome. Caphas bowed.
тАШWelcome to my fire, sir,тАЩ he said. тАШIt is good to find company in such bleak
surroundings. I am Caphas.тАЩ
тАШSkilgannon,тАЩ said the man, offering his hand.
A deep, sickening terror struck Caphas. His mouth was suddenly dry.
Aware that Skilgannon was staring at him he managed to say: тАШI ... was
about to prepare a small meal. You would be most welcome to share it.тАЩ
тАШThank you.тАЩ SkilgannonтАЩs blue eyes scanned the campsite. Then he
raised his head and sniffed the air. тАШSince you are not the person wearing
the perfume I suggest you invite the women to join us. There are wild
beasts in the woods. Not as many wolves as once there were, but still some
bears and the occasional panther.тАЩ He swung away from Caphas and