"Legacy Of Gird - 01 - Surrender None" - читать интересную книгу автора (Moon Elizabeth)

Gird tried to snatch for the rolling plums. Sikan kicked him lightly in the arm,
while Rauf tipped his basket all the way over. Gird heard some of the other boys
laughing, a woman nearby crying shame to them all. The back of his neck felt
hot, and he heard a wind in his ears. Before he thought, he grabbed the basket
and slammed it into RaufТs face. Sikan jumped at him; Gird rolled away, kicking
wildly. In moments that corner of the courtyard was a wild tangle of fighting
boys and squashed fruit. The steward bellowed, the lordТs guards waded into the
fight, using their hands, their short staves, the flats of their swords. And
Gird found himself held immobile by two guards, with Rauf lying limp on the
stones, and the other boys huddled in a frightened mass behind a line of armed
men.
УDisgraceful,Ф said someone over his head. Gird looked up. The lordТs steward,
narrow-faced, blue-eyed. УWho started it?Ф
No one answered. Gird felt the hands tighten on his arms, and give a shake.
УBoy,Ф said a deeper voice, one of the men holding him. УWhat do you know about
this. Who started it?Ф
УHe stole my plums.Ф Before he spoke, he didnТt realize he was going to. In the
heavy silence, with Rauf lying still before him, and the courtyard a mess of
trampled fruit, his voice sounded thin. The steward looked at him, met his eyes.
УYour name, boy? Your father?Ф
УGird, sir. DorthanТs son.Ф
УDorthan, eh? Your fatherТs not a brawling man; IТd have thought better of his
sons.Ф
УSir, he stole my plums!Ф
УYour tributeЕ yes. What was it, this year?Ф
УA ruckbasket, sir. And they were fine plums, big dark ones, and heЧФ
УWho?Ф
Gird nodded at Rauf. УRauf, sir. Him and Sikan, his friend.Ф
УAnyone else see that?Ф The stewardТs gaze drifted over the crowd of boys. Most
stared at their feet, but Teris, a year older than Gird and son of his nearest
neighbor, nodded.
УIf you please, sir, it was Rauf started it. He said they were good plums, and
would look better in his basket. Then he took some, and Gird said no, and he
knocked Gird asideЧФ
УRauf struck the first blow?Ф
УAye, sir.Ф
УAnyone else?Ф Reluctant nods followed this. Gird saw a space open around Sikan,
who had edged to the rear of the group. Sikan flushed and moved forward when the
steward stared hard at him.
УIt wasnТt so bad, sir,Ф he said, trying to smile around a bruised lip. УWe was
just teasing the lad, like, that was all.Ф
УTeasing, in your lordТs court?Ф
УWellЧФ
УAnd did you hit this boy?Ф The steward pointed at Gird.
УWell, sir, I may haveЧsort ofЧsort of pushed at him, like, but nothing hard,
not to say brawling. But heТs one of them, you know, likes to make quarrelsЧФ
The steward frowned. УItТs not the first time, Sikan, that you and Rauf have
been found in bad order.Ф He nodded at the men behind Gird, and they released
his arms. Gird rubbed his left elbow. УAs for you, Gird son of Dorthan, brawling
in the lordТs court is always wrongЧalways. Do you understand?Ф