"David Gemmell - Drenai Tales 09 - Hero In The Shadows" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gemmel David)

Special thanks to Dale Rippke and to Eric Harris, who have made planning the next Drenai novel an even greater
pleasure.
Prologue ............................................................................................................................................. 8
Chapter One...................................................................................................................................... 13
Chapter Two..................................................................................................................................... 18
Chapter Three ................................................................................................................................... 27
Chapter Four..................................................................................................................................... 36
Chapter Five ..................................................................................................................................... 49
Chapter Six....................................................................................................................................... 69
Chapter Seven .................................................................................................................................. 79
Chapter Eight.................................................................................................................................... 86
Chapter Nine .................................................................................................................................... 96
Chapter Ten .................................................................................................................................... 106
Chapter Eleven ............................................................................................................................... 120
Chapter Twelve .............................................................................................................................. 127
Chapter Thirteen............................................................................................................................. 134
Chapter Fourteen ............................................................................................................................ 141
Chapter Fifteen ............................................................................................................................... 147
Chapter Sixteen .............................................................................................................................. 154
Epilogue ......................................................................................................................................... 165
 Prologue
Mercenary captain Camran Osir reined in his mount at the crest of the hill and swung in the saddle to stare back
down the forest trail. The twelve men under his command rode from the trees in single file, and paused while he
scanned the horizon. Removing his iron helm, Camran ran his fingers through his long blond hair, enjoying,
momentarily, the warm breeze evaporating the sweat on his scalp. He glanced at the captive girl on the horse beside
him. Her hands were tied, her dark eyes defiant. He smiled at her, and saw her blanch. She knew he was going to kill
her, and that her passing would be painful. He felt the warmth of blood pulsing in his loins. Then the feeling passed.
His blue eyes narrowed as he gazed over the valley, seeking sign of pursuit.
Satisfied that no one was following, Camran tried to relax. He was still angry, of course, but calmed himself with
the thought that his riders were ill-educated brutes, with little understanding of civilized behaviour.
The raid had gone well. There were only five men in the little farming settlement, and these had been killed
quickly, with no wounds or losses among his own men. Some of the women and children had managed to escape into
the woods, but three young women had been taken. Enough, at least, to satisfy the carnal urges of his riders. Camran
himself had captured the fourth, the dark-haired girl on the sway-backed horse beside him. She had tried to run, but
he had ridden her down, leaping from his horse and bearing her to the ground. She had fought silently, without panic,
but one blow to the chin had rendered her unconscious, and he had thrown her over his saddle. There was blood now
upon her pale cheek, and a purple bruise was showing on the side of her neck. Her faded yellow dress was torn at the
shoulder and had flapped down, almost exposing her breast. Camran jerked his thoughts from her soft skin, turning
his mind to more urgent concerns.
Yes, the raid had gone well. Until that idiot Polian had incited the others to set fire to the old farmhouse. Wanton
destruction of property was anathema to a man of breeding like Camran. It was criminally wasteful. Peasants could
always be replaced, but good buildings should be treated with respect. And the farmhouse was a good building,
soundly constructed by a man who cared about quality work. Camran had been furious - not only with them, but with
himself. For instead of merely killing the captured women he had allowed his needs to override his common sense.
He had taken his time, enjoying the screams of the first, luxuriating in the desperate pleading of the second, and the
subsequent cries of agony of the third. With each of them dead he had turned his attentions to the dark-haired girl.
She had not pleaded, or made a sound after returning to consciousness to find her hands and ankles bound. She was
to be the richest harvest; her cries, when they came, would be the purest and sweetest.
The smoke had billowed over him just as he was unwrapping his ivory-handled skinning knives. Swinging round,