"George R. R. Martin - Ice and Fire 0 - The Hedge Knight" - читать интересную книгу автора (Martin George R R)

тАЬThief,тАЭ Dunk said, trying to sound stern. тАЬTake off that armor, and be glad that Thunder didnтАЩt kick you
in that fool head. HeтАЩs a warhorse, not a boyтАЩs pony.тАЭ

The boy took off the helm and flung it to the straw. тАЬI could ride him as well as you,тАЭ he said, bold as
you please.

тАЬClose your mouth, I want none of your insolence. The hauberk too, take it off. What did you think you
were doing?тАЭ

тАЬHow can I tell you, with my mouth closed?тАЭ The boy squirmed out of the chain mail and let it fall.

тАЬYou can open your mouth to answer,тАЭ said Dunk. тАЬNow pick up that mail, shake off the dirt, and put it
back where you found it. And the halfhelm too. Did you feed the horses, as I told you? And rub down
Sweetfoot?тАЭ

тАЬYes,тАЭ the boy said, as he shook straw from the mail. тАЬYouтАЩre going to Ashford, arenтАЩt you? Take me
with you, ser.тАЭ

The innkeep had warned him of this. тАЬAnd what might your mother say to that?тАЭ

тАЬMy mother?тАЭ The boy wrinkled up his face. тАЬMy motherтАЩs dead, she wouldnтАЩt say anything.тАЭ

He was surprised. WasnтАЩt the innkeep his mother? Perhaps he was only тАШprenticed to her. DunkтАЩs head
was a little fuzzy from the ale. тАЬAre you an orphan boy?тАЭ he asked uncertainly.

тАЬAre you?тАЭ the boy threw back.

тАЬI was once,тАЭ Dunk admitted. Till the old man took me in.

тАЬIf you took me, I could squire for you.тАЭ

тАЬI have no need of a squire,тАЭ he said.

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 george rr martin - thehedgeknight



тАЬEvery knight needs a squire,тАЭ the boy said. тАЬYou look as though you need one more than most.тАЭ

Dunk raised a hand threateningly. тАЬAnd you look as though you need a clout in the ear, it seems to me.
Fill me a sack of oats. IтАЩm off for Ashford alone.тАЭ

If the boy was frightened, he hid it well. For a moment he stood there defiant, his arms crossed, but just
as Dunk was about to give up on him the lad turned and went for the oats.

Dunk was relieved. A pity I couldnтАЩt . . . but he has a good life here at the inn, a better one than heтАЩd
have squiring for a hedge knight. Taking him would be no kindness.

He could still feel the ladтАЩs disappointment, though. As he mounted Sweetfoot and took up ThunderтАЩs