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

collectors. And what was he planning to do with the money? Ah, that was as yet something of a mystery.
But certainly Khystros would only need such vast sums of money beyond his already great wealth if he
needed to pay a faction among the nobility. For what end, who knew?
Pelthros was naturally even less willing to arraign his own brother on inadequate evidence than he
was his Chancellor. But Indhios had suggested an alternative course of action. Khystros had been
reproaching himself ever since for not having suggested it first; he felt his failure showed great want of
statecraft.
On the eastern shore of the Ocean lay theKingdomofMardha , the largest though poorest of the Four
Kingdoms. What better way to improve relations between Mardha and Royth than by sending King
Pelthros' own honorable brother there as Ambassador, with his daughter and a suitably chosen retinue?
In far-distant Mardha, Khystros could perform a valuable service to his Crown, yet have little time and
less opportunity for plotting and faction-building.
"So here I am," finished Khystros. "I could hardly refuse, because that would have played into
Indhios' fat hands. I did suggest that to be less conspicuous I travel in a small, fast vessel, with only my
daughter and a few guards and secretaries. But Indhios convinced my brother that the High King of
Mardha sets great store by an imposing show. Were I to appear in anything less than the chief warship of
the royal fleet of Royth, with less than a hundred useless mouths in my train, both I and the Kingdom
would be forever disgraced in the eyes of the Mardhans. Ah, well, we must eat what is set before us."
He looked sharply at Blade again. "Wherever you come from, it seems clear to me that you have no
love for the pirates. You are a fighting man such as one meets more often in legend than in fact. And
Mardha is a wild land, with its High Kings barely able to keep order even within the walls of their own
palaces. What do you say to joining my service as a guard? You deserve more rank than I could give
you without arousing jealousy among those who already serve me, for I can see you are born to lead as
well as to fight. But in Mardha, anything may happen, and the more trustworthy men I have guarding my
back, the better I will feel. Well, Master Blahyd?"
Blade had to consider the offer only for a moment. He could hardly find a position that offered better
opportunities to explore this world than that of a household guard to an important and far-traveling noble.
Furthermore, he could make use of his great skill in combat and would have no need to support himself
by pretending to other skills he did not possess. And of all the masters he had found it necessary or
expedient to serve in his travels, Khystros seemed among the most decent. So he nodded and then
added, "What about Brora Lanthal's son? We are sworn friends."
Khystros grinned. "I was about to offer him a place also. Seamaster Brora, you served well aboard
the yacht of my wife's father in your younger days. Will you serve me as well now?"
"I will, sir."
"So be it." Khystros refilled the wine cups, and they all drank.


CHAPTER 5
┬л^┬╗
For over a week the ship, Triumph, sailed east before the light but steady breeze. Brora and the other
survivors of the battle were quickly accepted into the crew and assigned duties. Brora became an
assistant to the sailing master; others took posts as their skills suggested. Blade, as one of the Grand
Duke's private guard, had no shipboard duties, but exercised regularly in arms with the other guardsmen.
They were indeed few. Most of the Grand Duke's retainers were useless civilian hangers-on, seasick half
the time even in the good weather and seldom appearing on deck. Blade shuddered to contemplate what
would happen to those poor wretches in the event of a pirate attack.
Blade's superb physique quickly threw off the minor effects of his five days adrift. The other guards
were frankly amazed at what he could do with rapier and dagger, broadsword, battleaxe, or mace. None
of them could best him, and few could even stay with him in the canvas-covered arms arena marked out
amidships for more than a few minutes at a time. Practice sessions, simple but ample meals, and sleep to