"Robert Jordan - Knife of Dreams Prologue (Embers Falling on Dry Grass)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jordan Robert)

Worry creasing his face, Dain took GaladтАЩs cloak and sword belt, and stood shifting his
feet as though uncertain he was doing the right thing. Well, he had been given his chance,
and it was too late to change his mind, now. Byar put a gauntleted hand on GaladтАЩs
shoulder and leaned close.

тАЬHe likes to strike at the arms and legs,тАЭ he said in a low voice, casting glances over his
shoulder at Valda. From the way he glared, some matter stood between them. Of course,
that scowl differed little from his normal expression. тАЬHe likes to bleed an opponent until
the man canтАЩt take a step or raise his sword before he moves for the kill. HeтАЩs quicker
than a viper, too, but heтАЩll strike at your left most often and expect it from you.тАЭ

Galad nodded. Many right-handed men found it easier to strike so, but it seemed an odd
weakness in a blademaster. Gareth Bryne and Henre Haslin had made him practice
alternating which hand was uppermost on the hilt so he would not fall into that. Strange
that Valda wanted to prolong a fight, too. He himself had been taught to end matters as
quickly and cleanly as possible.

тАЬMy thanks,тАЭ he said, and the hollow-cheeked man made a dour grimace. Byar was far
from likable, and he himself seemed to like no one save young Bornhald. Of the three, his
presence was the biggest surprise, but he was there, and that counted in his favor.

Standing in the middle of the courtyard in his gold-worked white coat with his fists on his
hips, Valda turned in a tight circle. тАЬEveryone move back against the walls,тАЭ he
commanded loudly. Horseshoes rang on the paving stones as the Children and the grooms
obeyed. Asunawa and his Questioners snatched their animalsтАЩ reins, the High Inquisitor
wearing a face of cold fury. тАЬKeep the middle clear. Young Damodred and I will meet
hereтАФтАЭ

тАЬForgive me, my Lord Captain Commander,тАЭ Trom said with a slight bow, тАЬbut since
you are a participant in the Trial, you cannot be Arbiter. Aside from the High Inquisitor,
who by law may not take part, I hold the highest rank here after you, so with your
permissionтАж?тАЭ Valda glared at him, then stalked over to stand beside Kashgar, arms
folded across his chest. Ostentatiously he tapped his foot, impatient for matters to
proceed.

Galad sighed. If the day went against him, as seemed all but certain, his friend would
have the most powerful man in the Children as his enemy. Likely Trom would have had
in any event, but more so now. тАЬKeep an eye on them,тАЭ he told Bornhald, nodding toward
the Questioners clustered on their horses near the gate. AsunawaтАЩs underlings still ringed
him like bodyguards, every man with a hand on his sword hilt.

тАЬWhy? Even Asunawa canтАЩt interfere now. That would be against the law.тАЭ

It was very hard not to sigh again. Young Dain had been a Child far longer than he, and
his father had served his entire life, but the man seemed to know less of the Children than
he himself had learned. To Questioners, the law was what they said it was. тАЬJust watch
them.тАЭ

Trom stood in the center of the courtyard with his bared sword raised overhead, blade
parallel to the ground, and unlike Valda, he spoke the words exactly as they were written.