"David Gemmell - Druss 01 - Druss the Legend" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gemmel David)

of face and none too bright. Bress cared for her, but there was no room left
for love in his heart for Alithae had taken it with her when she died. He had
married Patica to give Druss a mother, but the boy had never taken to her.
Two years ago, with Druss now fifteen, they had come
to Skoda. But even here the ghost remained -born again, it seemed, into the
boy.
'What can I do, Alithae?' he asked.
Patica entered the cabin, holding three fresh loaves
in her arms. She was a large woman with a round pleasant face framed by auburn
hair. She saw the glove and tried to mask the hurt she felt. 'Did you see
Druss?' she asked.
'Aye, I did. He says he'll try to curb his temper.'
'Give him time. Rowena will calm him.'
Hearing the thunder of hooves outside, Bress placed
the glove on the table and moved to the door. Armed men were riding into the
village, swords in their hands.
Bress saw Rowena running into the settlement, her
dress hitched up around her thighs. She saw the raiders and tried to turn away
but a horseman bore down on her. Bress ran into the open and leapt at the man,
pulling him from the saddle. The rider hit the ground hard, losing his grip on
his sword. Bress snatched it up, but a lance pierced his shoulder and with a
roar of anger he twisted round and the lance snapped. Bress lashed out with
the sword. The rider fell back, and the horse reared.
Riders surrounded him, with lances levelled.
In that instant Bress knew he was about to die. Time
froze for him. He saw the sky, filled with lowering clouds, and smelled the
new-mown grass of the meadows. Other raiders were galloping through the
settlement, and he heard the screams of the dying villagers. Everything they
had built was for nothing. A terrible anger raged inside him. Gripping the
sword, he let out the battle-cry of Bardan.
'Blood and death!' he bellowed.
And charged.
*
Deep within the woods Druss leaned on his axe, a rare
smile on his normally grim face. Above him the sun shone through a break in
the clouds, and he saw an eagle soaring, golden wings seemingly aflame. Druss
removed his sweat-drenched linen headband, laying it on a stone to dry.
Lifting a waterskin, he took a long drink. Nearby Pilan and Yorath laid aside
their hatchets.
Soon Tailia and Berys would arrive with the haul-
horses and the work would begin again, attaching the chains and dragging the
timbers down to the village. But for now there was little to do but sit and
wait. Druss opened the linen-wrapped package Rowena had given him that
morning; within was a wedge of meat pie, and a large slice of honey cake.
'Ah, the joys of married life!' said Pilan.
Druss laughed. 'You should have tried harder to woo
her. Too late to be jealous now.'
'She wouldn't have me, Druss. She said she was waiting
for a man whose face would curdle milk and that if she married me she would
spend the rest of her life wondering which of her pretty friends would steal