"Modesitt, L E - Recluce12 - Wellspring Of Chaos 1.5" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

Arthal did not answer. УIsnТt that deception?Ф
УYes, ser. IТm sorry, ser.Ф
УYou get a reputation for that, and no one will trust you to do anything. DonТt you understand that? A manТs worth is his reputation. Never forget that.Ф
УI said I was sorry, Da.Ф
Kharl held in a sigh. УGo on upstairs and see if your mother needs any help or any coal for the stove.Ф
Arthal trudged past his father and started up the stairs. УЕ worse than Father JorumЕФ
The words were not supposed to reach Kharl.
УWhat did you say?Ф snapped the cooper.
УNothing, ser. I was just telling myself that you and Father Jorum feel the same way.Ф
УThatТs about the only thing we agree on,Ф Kharl snorted.
Once Arthal shut the door to the upstairs, Kharl walked back to the front window, looking out into the still-heavy rain. УChildren,Ф he muttered to himself, Уso sure of themselvesЕ so stupid.Ф


V

Carrying two covered buckets of sealant, Kharl left HyesalТs so early in the morning that few people were out on the lane. He had placed a broom in ArthalТs hands before he had departed the shop, and told his older son to sweep the stones before the shop clear of standing water and mud from the rain of the night before. HeТd even remembered to make it clear to his son that Arthal was to sweep gently, so that mud and water did not splatter up on the glass of the display window.
Because of the weight of the sealant, Kharl stopped at the uphill side of the square to readjust his grip on the buckets. Early as it was, there were no stalls or carts or peddlers set up. After a momentТs respite, he hurried up CraftersТ Lane toward his shop. As he passed the short ser-viceway between Fourth Cross and Fifth, a narrow passage little more than four cubits wide, he slowed.
Had he heard someone? Was there someone lying in the shadows where he could not see? Moaning? In early morning? He shook his head and continued the last hundred cubits to the shop. But his thoughts drifted backЧwho could be in the serviceway?
Once he reached the shop, he noted that the stones outside the door had indeed been swept clean and were already dryЧand that there was no mud on the bricks or glass of the display window. After opening the door, he entered the cooperage and lowered both buckets to the wooden floor.
Abruptly, he turned and walked out, closing the door behind him. On the lane, he headed back down toward the serviceway.
УЕ a foolЕ thatТs what you areЕ stupidЕФ But despite his own words, he stepped into the darkness of the serviceway, checking carefully to make sure that no ruffians or cutpurses might be lingering. For a moment, he saw nothing. Then his eyes made out a bundle against the brick wall, a long bundle.
УЕ oooЕФ An arm twitched.
Kharl glanced around, but the serviceway remained empty except for him and whoever lay near the wall. He bent down, and, as his eyes adjusted to the dimness, he could make out a slender figureЧand the end of a smooth black staff. The figure was that of the young woman blackstaffer. Blood and mud splattered the tannish clothes, which had been partly ripped away from her for all too obvious purposes.
Kharl glanced around again, then took a deep breath, and bent down. He pulled her torn cloak back across her exposed body, then eased the nearly limp figure into his arms. Her back felt humped, but he realized that the lumpiness was her pack. He managed to grasp the staff, which, despite the cold damp stones and the mud, felt warm to his touch. Then he lurched to his feet and began to walk out of the serviceway.
Both Arthal and Charee were standing inside the open door to the shop as he carried the young woman through the doorway. Warrl stood farther back, his eyes darting from his father back to his mother.
УAryl was here. He said he mightЧФ Charee broke off her words. УWhat have you there?Ф
УA girlЕ young woman. She was attacked and beaten. I heard her moaning in the serviceway.Ф Kharl looked for somewhere to put her down. His eyes went to the stairs at the rear of the shop.
ChareeТs eyes went to the section of shimmering black staff that extended beyond the figure Kharl held. She stepped back. УSheТs one of those. SheТs one of those blackstaffers from Recluce. I wonТt have her in my house.У
Kharl repressed a sigh and bit back a retort. УThen pull out that apprenticeТs pallet by the rear bench. You donТt have to have her upstairs.Ф
УWhyЕ how could you?Ф
УI was supposed to leave her there, where she could have been attacked again or killed? Or died from the rain and cold?Ф
Charee sighed. УNo. Suppose you couldnТt do that.Ф There was only the slightest hint of emphasis on the word you.
УIsnТt Father Jorum always saying that his god wants us to help strangers and those who cannot help themselves?У asked Kharl.
Arthal and Warrl exchanged quick glances.
УPut her on the pallet,Ф Charee said. УIТll get a blanket to put under her head and some damp cloths to clean away the blood.Ф
Kharl waited as his consort pulled out the apprenticeТs pallet, which had not been used in years, and wiped it off with a cloth. Then he eased the womanЧlittle more than a girl, he thought, and certainly slender and light as oneЧonto the pallet. Then he put the staff against the wall.
The cloak slipped slightly.
ChareeТs hand went to her mouth. УOhЕФ
УI said sheТd been attacked. She might need a dry cover of some sort.Ф
УThatТd be best. IТll be back in a moment. Warrl, you come with me!Ф Charee drew herself up and headed for the stairs, bustling up them in a way that conveyed offended dignity. Warrl followed.
УOhhhhЕФ The young womanТs eyes opened for a moment, then closed.
Arthal looked closely at the uncovered womanТs exposed thigh, then away, almost guiltily, Kharl thought.
УWhat do you know about this?Ф Kharl partly lifted the woman and eased the pack off her shoulders, lowering her as gently as he could. Then he placed the pack next to the wall beside the black staff.
УDo you know who did it?Ф He straightened and looked at Arthal.
УNo, ser.Ф
Kharl continued to stare at his son.
УSome of the fellows, the ones who work in the carpentry shop on the piers, they were saying that she was really good-looking, and theyТd like to get her aloneЕ but that was all I heard.Ф
УThey said a lot more, but nothing about hurting her?Ф pressed Kharl. УOr did theyЧФ
УNo, ser. They didnТt say anything like that. In fact, Derket said that she could be real dangerous. He once saw a woman from Recluce with a staff take down three of Lord NorthТs guardsЕФ
Kharl had the feeling Arthal was telling the truth, and some of the tenseness he felt lessened.