"David Gemmell - Drenai Tales 05 - In the Realm of the Wolf" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gemmel David)

What an embarrassment. He used to be so deadly. He looked like an old man.'
'A dead old man,' grunted Angel. 'A dead old fool.'
'You could still take them all, Angel. And earn a fortune.'
Angel swore and his face darkened. 'I'd bet that's what they told Caplyn.' He
sighed. 'It was better when we fought hand to hand, no weapons. Now the crowd
just want to see blood and death. Let's talk about something else.'
'What - politics? Religion?'
'Anything. Just make it interesting.'
'Karnak's son was sentenced this morning: one year in exile in Lentria. A man
is murdered, his wife falls to her death, and the killer is exiled for a year
to a palace by the coast. There's justice for you.'
'At least Karnak put the boy on trial,' said Angel. 'The sentence could have
been worse. And don't forget, the murdered man's father pleaded for leniency.
Quite a moving speech, I understand - all about high spirits and accidents and
forgiveness.'
'Fancy that,' observed Balka drily.
'What is that supposed to mean?'
'Oh, come on, Angel! Six men - all nobles - all drunk, snatch a young married
woman and try to rape her. When her husband attempts to rescue her he is cut
down. The woman runs and falls over a cliff-edge. High spirits? And as for the
murdered man's father, I understand Karnak was so
moved by his pleas that he sent a personal gift of two thousand Raq to the
man's village, and a huge supply of grain for the winter.'
'Well, there you are,' said Angel. 'He's a good man.'
'I don't believe you sometimes, my friend. Don't you think it odd that the
father should suddenly make that plea? Gods, man, he was coerced into it.
People who criticise Karnak tend to have accidents.'1
'I don't believe those stories. Karnak's a hero. He and Egel saved this land.'
'Yes, and look what happened to Egel.'
'I think I've had enough of politics,' snapped Angel, 'and I don't want to
talk about religion. What else is happening?'
Balka sat silently for a moment, then he grinned. 'Oh, yes, there's a rumour
that a huge sum has been offered for the Guild to hunt down Waylander.'
'For what purpose?' asked Angel, clearly astonished.
Balka shrugged. 'I don't know. But I heard it from Symius, and his brother is
the clerk at the Guild. Five thousand Raq for the Guild itself, and a further
ten thousand to the man who kills him.'
'Who ordered the hunt?'
'No one knows, but they've offered large rewards for any information on
Waylander.'
Angel laughed and shook his head. 'It won't be easy. No one has seen Waylander
in ... what ... ten years? He could be dead already.'
'Someone obviously doesn't think so.'
'It's madness - and a waste of money and life.'
'The Guild are calling in their best men,' offered Balka. They'll find him.'
'They'll wish they hadn't,' said Angel softly.
1
Miriel had been running for slightly more than an hour. In that time she had
covered around nine miles from the cabin in the high pasture, down to the
stream path, through the valley and the pine woods, up across the crest of Axe