"Katherine Kerr - Deverry 07 - A Time Of War" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kerr Katherine)

frightened.тАЩ

тАШOh, he had a bit of a run-in with that Gel daтАЩThae bard,тАЩ Lael said, smiling. тАШHeтАЩs never seen one of
their tribe before.тАЩ

тАШEnough to scare anyone, that.тАЩ

тАШWhatтАЩs he doing here, anyway?тАЩ Lael went on.

тАШCursed if I know,тАЩ Verrarc shrugged, visibly worried. тАШThatтАЩs why the guards did fetch me and the rest
of the council before they did let that lot in. WeтАЩre going to pay him a visit, just to ask, like, down at the
campground.тАЩ

тАШThink it be trouble?тАЩ

тАШI wish I knew, Lael, I wish I knew. As he walked by, he did tell me that heтАЩd come to claim a tribute
we owe his kind. WeтАЩve got a web of treaties and obligations with these people, much as I wish we
didnтАЩt, and so who knows what he means by it? IтАЩd best be finding out.тАЩ

Verrarc turned away with a pleasant nod, but Jahdo felt his fear deepen to a clot like goatтАЩs hair in his
mouth. With a dream-like clarity he knew that showing his fear of the councilman was dangerous, that if
Verrarc thought he remembered - remembered what? The terror in the meadow. The hiss of a snake.

тАШWell, lad,тАЩ Lael said. тАШYou do look as white as IтАЩve ever seen you. What be so wrong?тАЩ

Jahdo was about to tell, then realized that the councilman lingered within earshot.

тАШThe bardтАЩs eyes, Da, thatтАЩs all. I keep imagining how that knife would feel when they did it.тАЩ

тАШA nasty thing, sure enough,тАЩ Lael shuddered a bit himself. тАШBut theyтАЩre a strange lot all round, and cruel
enough as well. Come along now, letтАЩs get home. We need to stop to claim a fee, too.тАЩ

тАШI did it already, Da. Mam told me to. I got a lot of roast goat from the Widow Suka.тАЩ

тАШSplendid. LetтАЩs go fetch it home, then.тАЩ

The news had preceded them to Citadel. As they were tying up the coracle, a handful of militiamen
surrounded them. With the swing of one broad hand and a toss of his blonde head, Demet pushed his
way to the front. The family had known him all their lives, just as most everyone knew everyone else in
Cerr Cawnen.

тАШBe it true, Lael?тАЩ Demet burst out. тАШIs one of the Horsekin in the city?тАЩ

тАШHe is, and we did see him. A bard, and blind as a mole. Councilman Verrarc says heтАЩs come to claim
some ancient due or service.тАЩ

All the men swore, laying automatic hands on sword hilt or knife. Demet looked away to the distant
shore and shaded his eyes with one hand, as if he were hoping to sec the stranger.