"Silistra - 02 - The Golden Sword" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morris Janet E)

the speed of the threx, the purpose of the race itself?Ф
Hael smiled and shook his head.
УWhen did you last throw the Well, brother? There is but one Well,Ф he reminded
Chayin gently, Уamong all the pieces.Ф
УI threw it six passes ago, sets before we went to Rollcall at Yardum-Or.Ф He
grinned ruefully.
УAnd did you not, while, in Yardum-Or, ride close to two hundred neras to see
Well Oppiri?Ф
УIt was an impulse, drunken and ill-conceived.Ф
УBut you did, against your own judgment and intentions, enter into a Well soon
after you threw one. Had you ever thrown the piece before?Ф
УYou know I did not ever before throw one. And you know what you would make of
this board,Ф Chayin said sharply. УI say it is Besha that is our problem, at the
moment. If the Menetphers attend, and Aknet aniet Boshast rides the Son of
Tycel, who has taken the Golden Sword three years in a row, then BeshaТs
Gtianden is our only hope. Saer has not the stamina for the two-nera run, and
your Quiris has not the speed to take a Tycel son.Ф
It was clear to me at that moment that the Nemarsi had been upon the desert to
toughen the threx. I had wondered why they carried no helmets, no spears, no
shields. Nor had I seen the deadly Parset lash, the huija, upon any of the men.
Readyнing the threx for racing, they traveled light.
УI, also, would hate to see the sword go again to the Menetphers,Ф Hael agreed.
УBut. I think you still miss the point of the board.Ф
УThe point, as I see, it, is that Besha is insufferнable. She is more lofty than
her station. I would be as loath to see her triumph as I would the
1VIenetphers.Ф
Chayin gestured to the jiask, who unstoppered one of the bladders he had brought
and handed it to his cahndor. He drank deeply and handed the drink to Hael.
УStill,Ф Had said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, УGuanden should
run. Besha will be only more difficult, if you leave her behind. Perhaps
something will occur at Frullo that will remind her of her place. But neither
you nor I, such as it would pleasure us, can be the one to do so. Doubtless her
insolent manner will attract some other jiask, someone not of the Nemarsi. Let
us cast again.Ф Hael pointed to the board, to the pieces Chayin still held in
his hand.
УMarshon!Ф snapped the cahndor. The jiask jumped to his feet. His blue eyes were
startling in his sun-weathered face. I saw he was younger than I had thought. He
wore only breech and sword belt, and his ribs showed clear under his
binnirinнcolored skin.
УMarshon, take this crell and get her cleaned and fed and return her to me. And
have a meal brought to us.Ф Chayin dropped his gaze to the game and threw the
bone pieces.
Marshon the jiask was leaning over me, obscurнing the board, and .I did not see
how the throw fell out.
УThere is nowhere for you to run,Ф said the jiask, looking me up and down, Уand
no use in you causing yourself trouble. I will unbind you, and we will walk to
the pool. I would not have to wash you like an infant.Ф
I nodded, and he removed the rope that bound my hands in back of me. Then he led
me through the tylas to the deep, wide pool, cool in their shadows. The young
jiask reached among the vegeЧ