"Modesitt, L E - Recluse 10 - The Magic Of Recluse" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

I didn't really expect mercy from the Brotherhood, but what did she mean? "Mercy?" I finally asked.
"All of you," interrupted Talryn before Krystal could reply, "I promised you an introduction and an explanation. I will try to make both short and then answer questions. Some questions I may not answer until later, but I will try to provide as much information as I can."
Once again, even before they started, they were saying they were going to hide something. I stifled a snort.
At the other end of the table, Tamra had adopted a look of resignation. Only Sammel looked really interested in what Talryn might have to say.
"First, the dangergeld. What is it, and why is it necessary? And, from your point of view, why were you selected?" Talryn took a sip from his mug.
"Stripped of all the piety, rhetoric, and rationalization, the dangergeld is simply a quest, a series of duties, or an exile-or some combination of all three-to enable you to discover whether you belong in Recluce, and, if so, in what capacity. None of you have been happy in what you have been doing. Unfocused discontent is contagious and leads to disorder. Disorder leads to chaos, and chaos to evil.
"After this meal, you each have a choice. You may accept dangergeld training, which can last several months, sometimes longer, or you can accept immediate exile. If you choose training, then depending on the results of that training you may be offered one or several options on how to fulfill your dangergeld obligation. Again, if you like none of the options, at that point you may choose exile.
"All exiles are transported, with their available funds and traveling gear, to one of three outside ports, depending on the time of year. Those are Freetown in Candar, Brysta in Nordla, or Swartheld in Afrit, north of Hamor."
At the last two names, most of the eyebrows around the table went up. I'd heard of Brysta and certainly wouldn't have been pleased to land there. Nordla was cold, and Brysta was as far north as you could get for an all-year port. Above Brysta, the winter ice sheets closed the coast.
". . . may not bring more than you can comfortably carry on your person. If any of you choose exile, the next departure will be in about ten to twelve days. You will remain in Nylan, although you may participate in any or none of the dangergeld training, as you please.
"For those of you considering dangergeld, training begins tomorrow. There will be classes on the details of what the dangergeld obligation entails, on the geography and customs of most major countries outside Recluce, on their economies and trade, on how money is handled-customs surrounding funds do vary, by the way-and on weapons familiarization and self-defense.
"We will also provide some additional background on the Brotherhood, since some of you may choose, or be offered, the option of performing your dangergeld in some capacity with the Brotherhood, depending on your own inclinations and the progress of your training.
"As always, your participation is voluntary-with two stipulations. First, should you choose not to participate in any training, you will be regarded as choosing exile. Second, you may not leave Nylan. Any attempt to do so will result in confinement until you can be exiled."
"Voluntary?" snorted Wrynn. "You don't play the Brotherhood's game, and you're locked up until you can be shipped off" to Nordla or Hamor."
"You have already made a choice that you cannot accept living in Recluce," Talryn observed mildly.
"No. You made that decision based on your rules," countered the blond..
Talryn shrugged his broad shoulders. "The rules, as you call them, are accepted and honored by virtually everyone in Recluce. Do you honestly believe otherwise? That a handful of masters and brothers who have never raised a violent hand in centuries could override the will of our people?"
I almost laughed at that. The masters controlled all the education. They didn't need swords. Besides, a bunch of boring sheep would agree to any rules that would send the wolves away. But no one raised that question, not Tamra nor Wrynn.
Krystal giggled again, and sliced her drying sandwiches into halves, which she quickly ate. How she could eat so much and stay so slender I couldn't imagine.
"Why do you teach us about so many countries, and not just the area where we will be sent?" The calm voice was Sammel's.
"You may end up seeing more of the world than you think, and we would like you to have some idea of where you may end up. Also, you will find Hamorians in Nordla and Candarians in Hamor. Knowing their differing customs has proven useful to others and should help you."
Myrten gave his head the smallest of shakes. Tamra stifled a grin, although I couldn't see what was funny. Wrynn, beside me, took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Krystal cut a green apple into a series of intricate slices arranged around the edge of her plate.
But no one asked another question, and Talryn volunteered nothing more about the dangergeld itself.
"You will probably have more questions. Anyone who does not want to undertake the dangergeld training, please see me when we finish eating. After the meal you will be shown your rooms, and you may spend the afternoon any way you like, including visiting the market in the harbor, or anywhere else in Nylan.
"Breakfast will be at the first bell. At the second bell, the first class will begin. You will be shown the class area on your way to your rooms." Talryn stood up. "Please finish as you like. I will be in the next room. When you are done, gather your things and join me there."
He pushed back his chair and departed, leaving the door behind him ajar.
Tamra raised her eyebrows, saying nothing.
"High-handed . . ." murmured Wrynn.
Krystal began eating the apple slices she had laid out around her plate.
Myrten pocketed two hard rolls and an apple, and Sammel frowned, either at Talryn's departure or Myrten's theft . . . or for some reason of his own. I took a last swallow from the mug, deciding against another slice of cheese. Enough was enough, and I was ready to find out what lay in store for me.
Tamra and I were the first ones on our feet. She hadn't eaten everything on her plate, either.
As I glanced at her plate, our eyes crossed, hers looking at my partially-eaten meal. I had to grin, and, this time, she grinned back momentarily, although her expression hardened into a bored look.
I held the door for her, but she nodded. "Go ahead, Lerris. I'll hold my own doors."
"As you wish, lady."
"And I'm certainly no lady, not in the way you meant."
"I didn't mean anything, other than courtesy. If you don't like simple manners ..." I let go of the black wood of the door and stepped back into the hallway toward the washrooms where my staff and pack were stored.
"Touchy, too. You should have red hair."
I ignored her comments, although I could feel the flush in my face.
"Healthy circulation, if thin-skinned."
Did the bitch needle everyone, or just those she could bully? I wished my thoughts were as quick as hers, but trying to match her would just make the situation worse.
The staff was where I left it, the lorken wood a shade ' warmer to my touch. Was that because we were in Nylan? Did it have some response of its own to magic or danger? I shook my head.
"Why the frown?" Sammel's voice was concerned. He probably always sounded concerned. He looked like his vocation was trying to do good whether anyone wanted it or not.
"Just thinking . . . wondering about all the black, whether , it meant magic."
"It probably does. The Brotherhood couldn't have shaped the harbor or the cliffs without some fantastic forces. But they : mean well, I think."
"So did Heldry the Mad."
Sammel smiled. "The Brotherhood doesn't hold mass executions."
I shrugged on my pack. "They settle for dangergeld and exile. That way the deaths are on someone else's hands."
"You are rather bitter for someone so young."
"That's easy when you're forced on a dangergeld for a reason you don't know by a group that enforces unspoken rules \ in unsaid ways."
That stopped him long enough for me to step around him and past Myrten. Tamra's back was in front of me as she passed by the table. No one was left there. Even Krystal had left several of the delicately-cut apple slices on her plate, where they were now turning brown.