"Anne Logston - Shadow 01 - Shadow" - читать интересную книгу автора (Logston Anne)

"That'll be Master Ulm, over east by the slave stands."

Shadow surrendered the copper, waved at the boy's retreating back,
and began searching for a fountain. She took a few minutes to scrub the
worst of the grime from her hands and face, and pinned her thick black
braids into a semi-orderly coil behind her delicately pointed ears before
locating Master Walpert, who was busy stacking casks at his stall.

"Good day, master vintner," Shadow called.

Walpert turned, eyed Shadow's ragged clothing disdainfully, and hefted
another cask, his round face growing wine-colored with the effort.

"What do you want?" he grunted.

"Why, only a skin of your very finest wine, master." Shadow smiled, her
large black eyes wide and innocent. "What will you take for it?"

Walpert paused briefly for a second look at Shadow's clothing, sniffed
disdainfully, and returned to his stacking.

"Five SunsтАФif you have it, which I doubt."
 To Walpert's amazement, Shadow pulled a fat pouch from her sleeve
and counted out five gold Suns, then shook her head and put them back.

"No, it's just not worth it." Shadow sighed. "It's a bit of a walk, but
Master Ulm offered for three Suns."

Walpert's eyes hungrily followed the pouch back into Shadow's sleeve.

"That Ulm!" he growled. "He waters his wine daily to cheapen it!"

"That's as may be, friend," Shadow said regretfully, "but I'm not rich
enough to spend five Suns when I can buy elsewhere for three. And after
what he said about your wine being sold too youngтАФ"

"WHAT?" Walpert bellowed. "Young! I'll break his lying neck! Adar
should wither his manhood, if it weren't too late!"

He fumbled for a skin and poured a mug full, thrusting it at Shadow.

"There, ladyтАФtaste that and learn the ripeness of Walpert's vintages!"

Shadow drained the mug in a remarkably short time, sighing in
satisfaction.

"Ah, now there's a wine to warm the stomach," she said, nodding.
"Ulm's wine did taste a little weak for all that, though he said you'd sell
short because half your wine had souredтАФ"