"Brotherhood Of The Sword - 04 - A Dark Champion" - читать интересную книгу автора (MacGregor Kinley)

"Ahh," Stryder said, laughing darkly. "The mysterious princess you've never
seen. Tell me, do you really think she still waits on your hoary hide to return
to her?"
"I wish it were otherwise, but I receive enough letters from my uncle urging me
to return home and marry her to know she is ever the dutiful maid who sits
waiting patiently for my homecoming." Christian's voice was tinged with ire at
that.
Stryder knew his friend well enough to know Christian wished the maid would find
someone else to marry. Like him, Christian was most happy as a bachelor and had
no desire to tie a woman to his side.
At least not for any longer than a single night.
Stryder led the way into his red and white-striped tent. He set his helm on the
table and doffed his gauntlets. "Will you return home to marry her soon?"
Bitter anger flashed in Christian's eyes. "I've no desire to return home for
many reasons. Prince I may be, but I owe them nothing. My loyalties are strictly
to the Brotherhood now."
Stryder nodded in understanding. Christian's family had been the reason he was
living in the monastery when it had been captured by Saracens in Acre. After the
death of Christian's parents when he was six, Christian's uncle had sequestered
the boy with the monks in hopes that Christian would learn his place so that he
could return to Byzantium to be a puppet easily controlled.
That plan could not have gone more wrongly, since the man before Stryder was
stronger than steel and would never be controlled by anyone or anything.
Stryder's squire, Druce, came running into the tent. At ten-and-four, the boy
was gangly and uncoordinated. His curly black hair was cut short, but always
managed to look unruly. The boy often ran about daydreaming and falling over
things. Even so, Stryder never lost patience with him.
Like Stryder had been at that age, Druce was an orphan and a ward of the crown.
"I'm sorry I'm late, milord," Druce said as he grabbed a stool and dragged it
toward Stryder. "There was a storyteller who came and she was fantastic. I could
have listened to her all day as she spun stories of lovers betrayed by the
Fates." Druce climbed onto the stool and reached to unlace the back of Stryder's
armor.
Stryder grunted at that as he dipped lower so Druce could reach the fastenings
more easily.
Stryder knew the instant Druce became aware of Christian's presence. The boy
tumbled off the stool and almost knocked Stryder over as he went sprawling onto
the floor.
The boy looked up, his entire face contrite. "I'm so sorry, Lord Stryder. Did I
interrupt something?"
"Nay," Stryder said, helping him up. "Christian and I were only talking of
inconsequential matters." Stryder introduced the lad to Christian. "Christian of
Acre, meet Druce, my ward and squire."
"Greetings, Druce," Christian said before meeting Stryder's gaze. Christian's
eyes were troubled even more than before. "Did something happen to Raven?"
"Nay. He was knighted a few months back and is sleeping off a night of
misbegotten youth."
His face relaxing, Christian grunted at that as Druce returned to disarm
Stryder.
Druce meanwhile prattled on about the woman he'd been listening to. "Have you