"David Gemmell - Knights Of Dark Renown" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gemmel David)

Lug sat for a moment, trying to remember. тАШNo, it was the Yellow. I can only reach the
other Colours through you, sir.тАЩ
тАШNo matter, Lug. I will think on it. It is almost time for you to be going; your free time
ends at dusk, does it not?тАЩ
тАШI have a little while,тАЩ said the youth. тАШMarshin says the family will not return from
Furbolg until tomorrow. They are bringing guests for the auction.тАЩ
тАШIt may not be as bad as you think,тАЩ offered Ruad. тАШThere are many good Houses. The
Lady Dianu may need a house servant - or the Lord Errin. Both have good names for
their treatment of slaves.тАЩ
тАШWhy should I be a slave?тАЩ Lug snapped. тАШWhy? The empire has gone. All the lands are
now being ruled by peoples who were once slaves. Why should I remain? It isnтАЩt fair!тАЩ
тАШLife has a habit of not being fair, boy. The Fomorian War was the last, and you were a
victim of it. But you will have an opportunity to buy your freedom; it is not so bad a life.тАЩ
тАШHave you ever been a slave, sir?тАЩ
тАШOnly to my Craft,тАЩ admitted Ruad. тАШBut that does not count, does it? You were taken . . .
what, five years ago? How old were you? Ten, eleven? It is the way of things, Lug. Wars
cost money and that is recouped by plunder and slavery. The Gabala fought that war for
national pride, for the right to give away their empire and not have it taken from them.
You were one of the last victims. I know it is not fair, but a man who goes through life
complaining about fairness will make nothing of himself. Trust me on this, boy. There
are three kinds of men: winners, losers and fighters; The winners are blessed by the
Colours; no matter what they do, life treats them like gods. The losers waste their
energies whining like scolded children; they will amount to nothing. The fighters keep
their swords sharp and their shields high; they expect nothing they do not battle for, but
they fight until they drop.тАЩ
тАШI do not want to be a warrior,тАЩ said Lug.
тАШListen to me, boy!тАЩ snapped Ruad. тАШAnd with your whole mind. I am not speaking of
swordsmen, I am speaking of life. Your wits are both sword and shield; it is a matter of
perspective. If you want something, then plan for it. Think of all that could go wrong, and
picture all that can be done to make it right. Then do it. DonтАЩt talk about it endlessly. Do
it! Set your mind to the task. You have a good mind and a great Talent. I do not know
how you held that bird in the air, but there is in you a power. So search for it. Build upon
it. And never allow despair to rule your heart. You understand me?тАЩ
тАШI will try, sir.тАЩ
тАШThat is a good enough answer. Now go home and I will examine the bird.тАЩ
Lug stood and smiled. тАШYou have been very good to me, sir. Why do you take the time?тАЩ
тАШWhy should I not?тАЩ
тАШI donтАЩt know. In Mactha they say you are a hermit who dislikes the company of people.
They say you are . . . rude and surly, ill-tempered and short of patience. But I have never
found you to be so.тАЩ
Ruad rose and laid a huge hand on the boyтАЩs shoulder. тАШI am what they say, Lug. Make no
mistake on that. I do not like people; I never have. Greedy, grasping, selfish and self-
serving. But I have a way with Talent, boy. I can make it flourish - as a gardener with
blooms. You remember the day I caught you hiding in the bushes behind the workshop?тАЩ
тАШYes,тАЩ said Lug, grinning. тАШI thought you were going to kill me.тАЩ
тАШOn each Tiernsday for seven weeks you had hidden in that spot and watched me work.
You showed patience - and that is rare in the young. That is why I decided to teach you a
little of the Colours. And you have been a good student. If the Source is willing, you will
continue so to be. Now be off with you!тАЩ
After the boy had gone, Ruad gathered together the remains of the metal bird, examining