"Katherine Kerr - Deverry 01 - Daggerspell" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kerr Katherine)

clothes, then unceremoniously cropped off her hair like a ladтАЩs with his silver dagger.

тАЬThat long hairтАЩs too messy for the road,тАЭ he said. тАЬCursed if IтАЩll spend my time combing it for you
like a nursemaid.тАЭ

Jill supposed that he was right, but when she looked at herself in the bit of mirror, she felt that she no
longer really knew who she was. The feeling persisted when they went down to the tavern room of the
inn for the noon meal. She felt that she should get up and help Blaer the innkeep serve, not sit there and
eat stew with the other customers. Because it was market day, the tavern was crowded with merchants,
who all wore checked brigga as a sign of their station. They looked Cullyn over with a shudder for the
silver dagger in his belt and gave him as wide a berth as possible.

Jill was just finishing her stew when three young riders from a warband swaggered in and demanded
ale. Jill knew they were a lordтАЩs riders because their shirts had embroidered blazons, running stags in this
case, on the yokes. They stood right in the way near the door and kept Blaer so busy that when Cullyn
wanted more ale, he had to get up and fetch it himself. As he was coming back with the full tankard, he
had to pass the three riders. One of them stepped forward and deliberately jogged CullynтАЩs arm, making
him spill the ale.

тАЬWatch your step,тАЭ the rider sneered. тАЬSilver dagger.тАЭ

Cullyn set the tankard down and turned to face him. Jill climbed up on the table so she could see.
Grinning, the other two riders moved back to the wall to leave a clear space around Cullyn and their
fellow.

тАЬAre you looking for a fight?тАЭ Cullyn said.

тАЬJust looking to make a lout of a silver dagger mind his manners,тАЭ the rider said. тАЬWhatтАЩs your name,
scum?тАЭ
 тАЬCullyn of Cerrmor. And whatтАЩs it to you?тАЭ

The room went dead silent as every man in it turned to stare. The other two riders laid urgent hands
on their friendтАЩs shoulders.

тАЬCome along, Gruffidd,тАЭ one of them said. тАЬJust drink your cursed ale. YouтАЩre a bit young to die.тАЭ

тАЬGet away,тАЭ Gruffidd snarled. тАЬAre you calling me a coward?тАЭ

тАЬCalling you a fool,тАЭ the rider said, glancing at Cullyn. тАЬHere, our apologies.тАЭ

тАЬDonтАЩt you apologize for me,тАЭ Gruffidd said. тАЬI donтАЩt give a pigтАЩs fart if heтАЩs the Lord of Hell! Listen,
silver dagger, not half of those tales about you can be true.тАЭ

тАЬIndeed?тАЭ Cullyn laid his hand on his sword hilt.

It seemed that the whole room gasped, even the walls. Jill clasped her hands over her mouth to keep
from screaming. Frightened men moved back and away, leaving Cullyn and Gruffidd facing each other.

тАЬHere!тАЭ Blaer yelped. тАЬNot in my inn!тАЭ