"Michael Moorcock - The Runestaff 3 - The Sword of The Dawn" - читать интересную книгу автора (Moorcock Michael)

the masked man.

"I am easily bored," Hawkmoon replied. "I was be-
coming impatient with the game."

"Well, what now?"

"Your name?" Hawkmoon said. "I'll know that first
Чthen see your faceЧthen know your business here-Ч
then, and perhaps most important, discover how you
came here."

"My name you will know," said the man with undis-
guised pride. "It is Elvereza Tozer."

"I do know it, indeed!" remarked the Duke of Koln
in some surprise.

Chapter Three

ELVEREZA TOZER

ELVEREZA TOZER was not the man Hawkmoon
would have expected to meet if he had been told in
advance that he was to encounter Granbretan's great-
est playwrightЧa writer whose work was admired
throughout Europe, even by those who in all other
ways loathed Granbretan. The author of King Staleen,
The Tragedy of Katine and Carna, The Last of the
Braldurs, Annala, Chirshil and Adutf, The Comedy of
Steel and many more, had not been heard of of late,
but Hawkmoon had thought this due to the wars. He
would have expected Tozer to have been rich in dress,
confident in every way, poised and full of wit. Instead
he found a man who seemed more at ease with a sword
than with words, a vain man, something of a fool and
a poppinjay, dressed in rags.

As he propelled Tozer with his own sword along the
marsh trails towards Castle Brass, Hawkmoon puzzled
over this apparent paradox. Was the man lying? If so,
why should he claim to be, of all things, an eminent
playmaker?

Tozer walked along, apparently undisturbed by his
change of fortune, whistling a jaunty tune.

Hawkmoon paused. "A moment," he said, and
reached to grasp the reins of his horse, which had been
following him. Tozer turned. He still wore his mask.