"Robert Jordan - The Wheel of Time 11 - Knife of Dreams" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jordan Robert)

it is a lie, or at best a mad acceptance of some malignant rumor started by Darkfriends or others who wish the Children ill. Either way,
you have defamed me in the vilest manner, so I accept your challenge to Trial Beneath the Light, where I will kill you.тАЭ That barely
squeezed into the ritual, but he had denied the charge and accepted the challenge; it would suffice.

Realizing that he still held the helmet in an outstretched hand, Valda frowned at one of the dismounted Children, a lean Saldaean
named Kashgar, until the man stepped forward to relieve him of it. Kashgar was only an under-lieutenant, almost boyish despite a
great hooked nose and thick mustaches like inverted horns, yet he moved with open reluctance, and ValdaтАЩs voice was darker and
acrid as he went on, unbuckling his sword belt and handing that over, too.
тАЬTake a care with that, Kashgar. ItтАЩs a heron-mark blade.тАЭ Unpinning his silk cloak, he let it fall to the paving stones, followed by his
tabard, and his hands moved to the buckles of his armor. It seemed that he was unwilling to see if others would be reluctant to help
him. His face was calm enough, except that angry eyes promised retribution to more than Galad. тАЬYour sister wants to become Aes
Sedai, I understand, Damodred.
Perhaps I understand precisely where this originated. There was a time I would have regretted your death, but not today. I may send
your head to the White Tower so the witches can see the fruit of their scheme.тАЭ

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