"Richard A. Knaak - Dragonlance - Lost Histories 4 - Land of the Minotaurs" - читать интересную книгу автора (Knaak Richard A)

and the sweet, clean air that he had not breathed since coming within a day's journey of the overcrowded
capital. He was welcomed not only by the smell of the sea, which, as a veteran sailor, he appreciated, but
also a rancid odor prevalent in most minotaur cities, and especially so here.

Hecar's path took him closer to the docks, where the scent of the sea was stronger. The minotaur sniffed,
recalling adventures from his younger days when he had sailed off on his first major expedition aboard
the Gladiator. There were times he wished he had remained with the ship after his first two years, but if
he had, he would have gone down with Master Ganth's vessel during the veteran captain's special
mission for the empire. No one had seen or heard of the ship again, save for a few loose articles found
by another vessel. For more reasons than one, Hecar missed Master Ganth. The captain had been a good
teacher and a prime exponent of minotaur honor and strength. As a member of the same clan house as
his first captain, Hecar always felt proud to recall that he had served with the stalwart minotaur.

All memory of his sailing days faded abruptly as he drank in the sight before him. It was not by chance
that he had journeyed near the docks. Some of the news he and his companions had picked up from
minotaurs who had recently departed Nethosak concerned a new fleet being built. What those
newcomers had failed to emphasize was just how great a fleet had already been completed.

There were ships and ships and ships. All of them were obviously new, the oldest little more than three
years. In all his life, Hecar could not recall so many fighting vessels docked at the capital. Nethosak had
always been the busiest port in either kingdom, but it was clear that most of the vessels here were
moored for some grand strategy. They were being saved for what had to be a substantial sea assault.

While the effort it must have taken the empire to build so many ships in the past few years was both
astonishing and admirable, the fact that so much work had gone on since his departure disturbed Hecar.
There had been some build-up of forces in the first five years after the minotaurs escaped the servitude
of the Dark Lady, but the incredible rate of the last three years spoke of obsession.

It's far too soon to be thinking of conquest, Hecar thought, shaking his head at the sight, far too soon.
The empire will be heading for another downfall if this continues. "What mad fool has become emperor
since I left? What're the priesthood and the Supreme Circle doing?"

His questions had been muttered quietly. When a voice behind him responded, it took the visiting
minotaur by surprise.

"You should be careful what you ask around here, Boy."



file:///K|/eMule/Incoming/Richard%20A.%20Knaak%20-%2...Histories%204%20-%20Land%20of%20the%20Minotaurs.html (4 of 237)8-8-2007 0:36:53
 dragonlance

The owner of the voice was a scarred, light brown-furred, weatherworn minotaur with only half a right
arm. He carried a heavy sack in the other one and was obviously a dockworker. His snout was long and
wrinkled.

"Lost the arm to a shark I killed after my ship went down, Boy," remarked the elder, noting Hecar's
glance. "Ended up eating him instead of the other way around." The older minotaur chuckled, then grew
serious. "Talking out loud's not good sometimes."