"01 - Odyssey" - читать интересную книгу автора (McGough Scott)

the continent come to satisfy the tourney crowds, the warrior

thought.

Kamahl breathed deeply, the prospect of the games exciting

his blood more than the run. Years mastering the fighting arts

lay behind him, and now he rushed to show his skills before the

wider world. Veteran of many a duel in his home mountains, he

wanted more than the championship of an alpine valley. The best

fighters on the continent converged on this tourney, and he

belonged here.

His stride lengthened as he left the hills, his boots

pounding into the road's surface. The guards waved the merchants

through, uttering only a few threats to increase the bribes

offered. They turned their attention on the jogging figure. His

light throwing axes softly rubbed against Kamahl's wallet. He had

run for days approaching the contest and lost what little fat he

might have had. The strict regime of exercise had refined him

down to his essence. He pulled up to the gate without any sign of

exertion except his deep breaths.

"Another jack," muttered a guard as he took a firmer hold of

his halberd and moved out from the gate, Kamahl frowned, for the

soldier used the term for an arena fighter as if it were an

insult. He was a champion, and only the obvious inferiority of

the speaker prevented a demand for satisfaction. The man looked

nervously at a stack of orders. The rest of the troops had

withdrawn inside to the guardhouse. Two stout men-at-arms slowly