"Jeffrey Lord - Blade 09 - Kingdom of Royth" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lord Jeffery)

be gained by frettin' over what we can't help." He turned away to rummage a signal rocket out of its
tarred-canvas casing in the bottom of the boat, leaving Blade to wonder again what those cryptic
remarks might mean. Brora, he had already discovered, was a man who was very sparing with words.
If Brora had intended to imply that the ship might be a pirate's prize, he was wrong. The signal rocket
arched up and went off in a flurry of green smoke. A few minutes later another rocket rose up in reply
from the ship as she came about. Half an hour later they were alongside her. Blade stared up at the
immense height of her sides to the peak of her tallest mast, where a black banner with five red castles in a
circle on it flapped limply in the light breeze. Bearded faces lined the rails, most of them topped with
leather or metal helmets, and Blade saw the glint of spear points and sword blades.
Somebody stuck a black-bearded face farther over the railing and yelled down:
"Ahoy, the boat! Who be ye?"
"Survivors of Krim's Blacksnake. She and Malfor's Trident met pirates not far from here six days
a-gone. Both burned, but we sank one pirate and burned t'other three."
Cheers exploded from the deck above at Brora's words. Beardface was silent, though, and shouted
back:
"Can ye prove this? We know not if'n ye be pirates yourselves, set adrift to be picked up and betray
us from wi'in." The cheers died, to be replaced by apprehensive grumbling.
"WHAAAAT?" exploded Brora. "By Druck's seaweed-covered prick, I'll skin ye for that! Know ye
not Brora Lanthal's son?"
More muttering and grumbling. Then the crowd of faces at the railing gave way as a tall gray-haired
man stepped into view and stared down at the boat with piercing black eyes. He wore a black tunic with
the same five red castles on the chest as Blade had seen on the ship's banner. Blade had the sensation of
being under an abnormally keen and intelligent scrutiny.
 Brora took one look at the man and quickly knelt. "My Lord Duke! This then be your ship?"
"Yes, but why I am aboard it and it is here is a story best told before fewer ears." The duke glared
about him and Blade saw most of the heads abruptly disappear. "Captain, I know this Brora Lanthal's
son. He and any with him have my countenance as honest men."
"But m'lordтАФ" began the bearded face who had first spoken.
"Captain, I am still a Grand Duke of Royth," said the duke coldly. Blade saw the captain's mouth shut
abruptly. Moments later a rope ladder sailed over the railing and dropped down the side of the ship. And
a few moments after that, Blade, Brora, and the other ten men from the boat were standing securely on
the ship's deck, just forward of the mainmast.


CHAPTER 4
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The man in black turned out to be the Grand Duke Khystros, younger brother to King Pelthros of Royth.
Blade was sufficiently self-assured to feel no uneasiness at confronting such a high-ranking individual in
his burlap loincloth and sunburned skin. And Khystros had a relaxed, no-nonsense manner that set
everybody else at ease, from Brora on down to the youngest ship's boy among the survivors.
After a few sharp questions, Khystros ordered the first mate to take the other survivors forward and
see that they were fed, clothed and attended. Then he led Blade, Brora, and the captain down into his
own cabin aft. There he dismissed the waiting attendants. With his own hands he rummaged clothing,
shoes, and salves out of huge brassbound chests racked along one wall of the cabin. After that, he sat
down in a light folding chair of delicately carved wood and black canvas, fixed Brora with an inquiring
glance, and said:
"Well, Brora Lanthal's son. I judge you have a tale to tell. I'm listening."
Brora had been as nervous as a patient in a dentist's waiting room at the prospect of being
questioned by such an exalted person. But under Khystros' calming influence, he told his story
completely, quickly, and well. The duke mostly listened in silence, only injecting a question now and then.