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

thirty. They killed Berys in the woods. Tailia escaped. But I have not seen
all the bodies. Maybe others were killed.'
'Then let us think of thirty. It won't be easy freeing
them.'
A sound from outside made both men turn as a young
woman entered the room. Shadak rose. The woman was fair-haired and pretty, and
there was blood upon her blue woollen skirt and her shirt of white linen.
'Yorath died,' she told the young man. 'They're all
dead, Druss.' Her eyes filled with tears and she stood in the doorway looking
lost and forlorn. Druss did not move, but Shadak stepped swiftly towards her,
taking her in his arms and stroking her back.
 He led her into the room and sat her at the table. 'Is
there any food here?' he asked Druss. The young man nodded and moved through
to the back room, returning with a pitcher of water and some bread. Shadak
filled a clay cup with water and told the girl to drink. 'Are you hurt?' he
asked.
She shook her head. 'The blood is Yorath's,' she
whispered. Shadak sat beside her and Tailia sagged against him; she was
exhausted.
'You need to rest,' he told her gently, helping her to
rise and leading her through the building to a small bedroom. Obediently she
lay down, and he covered her with a thick blanket. 'Sleep, child. I will be
here.'
'Don't leave me,' she pleaded.
He took her hand. 'You are safe . . . Tailia. Sleep.'
She closed her eyes, but clung to his hand, and Shadak sat with her until the
grip eased and her breathing deepened. At last he stood and returned to the
outer room.
'You were planning to leave her behind?' he asked the
young man.
'She is nothing to me,' he said coldly. 'Rowena is
everything.'
'I see. Then think on this, my friend: suppose it was
you who had died and it was Rowena who survived hiding in the woods. How would
your spirit feel if you saw me ride in and leave her alone in this
wilderness?'
'I did not die,' said Druss.
'No,' said Shadak, 'you didn't. We'll take the girl
with us.'
'No!'
'Either that or you walk on alone, laddie. And I do
mean walk.'
The young man looked up at the hunter, and his eyes
gleamed. 'I have killed men today,' he said, 'and I will not be threatened by
you, or anyone. Not ever again. If I choose to leave here on one of your
stolen horses, I shall do so. You would be wise not to try to stop me.'
'I wouldn't try, boy, I'd do it.' The words were
spoken softly, and with a quiet confidence. But deep inside Shadak was
surprised, for it was a confidence he did not feel. He saw the young man's
hand snake around the haft of the axe. 'I know you are angry, lad, and