"Mercedes Lackey - Brightly Burning" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lackey Mercedes)

тАЬSixth Formers are the masters here; the rest of you are scum. The sooner you get that into your head,
the better it will be for you.тАЭ
тАЬDonтАЩt argue with him!тАЭ the homely girl whispered harshly, and the older boy suddenly turned
on her.
тАЬDid you speak out of turn, Froggy?тАЭ he asked, with a savage, joyful smile.
The girl shrank down, looking very like a frightened frog. Her olive skin went pale, and she hid
her over-large eyes under the thick, coarse fringe of her dark hair. тАЬHeтАЩs new, sir,тАЭ she whispered
miserably. тАЬNo oneтАЩs told him the rules, sir. He canтАЩt know what to do if he doesnтАЩt know the rules, sir.тАЭ
LanтАЩs first attacker took pity on her. тАЬQuite right, Froggy. We wonтАЩt have our ladies paint you
today. Must tell the new one the rules, then we can flog him if he disobeys.тАЭ
The second one pulled Lan up out of his seat by his collar, then knocked his feet out from under
him with a sweep of his leg. The rest of the oldest students had gathered around by then, and they
howled with laughter as Lan went to his hands and knees. Lan bit back a yelp of pain, but his eyes
watered. Another grabbed a handful of LanтАЩs hair and yanked, forcing his face up so that he looked the
leader full in the face.
тАЬScrawny, undersized,тАЭ said the leader meditatively. тАЬWeтАЩve already got one Rabbit, so thatтАЩs
out of the question. But you-youтАЩre decidedly scrubby. I believe I will call you Scrub. Now listen well,
Scrub.тАЭ
Lan was red with fury, his insides churning; his knees ached and his head felt as if theyтАЩd already
torn his hair out. He started to say something, then bit back the words. This was not the time to get into a
fight. He was dreadfully outnumbered, and he wouldnтАЩt stand a chance.
тАЬThe Sixth Formers are the rightful rulers here. You will address us all as тАШsirтАЩ and
тАШmistressтАЩ-unless you happen to prefer тАШmy lordтАЩ and тАШmy lady,тАЩ in which case you may use those terms
instead.тАЭ
Somebody sniggered, and the leader turned a cold gaze on him; the sniggering stopped
immediately.
тАЬYou, on the other hand, will be known by the name we have chosen for you-in your case,
Scrub-and you will answer to that name, or be flogged, or suffer whatever other punishment we deem
appropriate.тАЭ The handsome Sixth Former was obviously in his element and enjoying himself very much;
Lan thought with fury about how much he wanted to blacken those blue eyes and rub mud into that
beautiful blond hair. тАЬYou will give place to us, give way before us, speak only when you are spoken to,
and accomplish whatever task we set you, or be punished. And it is no use complaining to the Master,
because if you do, we shall flog you with twice as many strokes. The Master has given Sixth Form the
responsibility for maintaining discipline, and heтАЩll assume you are a liar, a slacker, or both if you complain
to him. You are nothing; we are everything. Do you understand?тАЭ
LanтАЩs throat was so tight with anger that he couldnтАЩt have gotten out a single word, but his
second tormentor, hand still firmly buried in his hair, forced his head to nod like a puppetтАЩs while the rest
laughed like madmen.
тАЬVery well. Scrub,тАЭ the leader said genially, тАЬYouтАЩre let off this time. Just make sure you stay
properly within the rules from now on.тАЭ
The one holding LanтАЩs hair suddenly shoved him forward and let go of his head, so that he
sprawled at the leaderтАЩs feet, invoking more peals of laughter. тАЬNow Scrub,тАЭ the leader said tenderly, тАЬit
isnтАЩt necessary to kiss my feet, but that was a good thought and the proper attitude.тАЭ
The Sixth Formers dispersed and went back to their chairs as Lan got slowly and angrily to his
feet. He made no move to dust himself off, but dropped down into his seat with his head aching from all
the anger he was holding in.
тАЬJust do what they say, тАШspecially what Tyron and Derwit say,тАЭ the girl they had called тАЬFroggyтАЭ
whispered urgently, with a sidelong glance at the retreating backs. тАЬTheyтАЩll leave you alone, mostly, if you
do.тАЭ
Now they were turning their attention to Owyn and his friends; Tyron addressed Owyn as