"John Norman - Gor 05 - Assassin of Gor " - читать интересную книгу автора (Norman John)

tarn disks, and of double weight. There must be more.
"All we know is this," said the man, handing him a greenish patch.
Kuurus studied the patch. "It is a faction patch," said he. "It speaks to me
of
the tarn races of Ar."
"It is true," said the man.
The faction patches are worn in Ar by those who favor a given faction in the
racing. There are several such factions, who control the racing and compete
among themselves, the greens, the reds, the golds, the yellows, the silvers.
"I shall go to Ar," said Kuurus.
"If you are successful," said the man, "return and you will receive a hundred
such pieces of gold."
Kuurus looked at him. "If it is not true," he said, "you will die."
"It is true," said the man.
"Who is it," asked Kuurus, "that was slain? Who is it that I am to avenge?"
"A Warrior," said the man.
"His name?" asked Kuurus.
"Tarl Cabot," said the man.
Chapter 2: Ar
Kuurus, of the Caste of Assassins, entered the great gate of Ar.
Guardsman did not detain him, for he wore on his forehead the mark of the
black
dagger.
Not for many years had the black tunic of the Assassins been seen within the
walls of Ar, not since the siege of that city in 10,110 from its founding, in
the days of Marlenus, who had been Ubar; of Pa-Kur, who had been Master of the
Assassins; and of the Ko-ro-ban Warrior, in the songs called Tarl of Bristol.
For years the black of the Assassins had been outlawed in the city. Pa-Kur,
who
had been Master of the Assassins, had led a league of tributary cities to
attack
Imperial Ar in the time when its Home Stone had been stolen and its Ubar
forced
to flee. The city had fallen and Pa-Kir, though of low caste, had aspired to
inherit the imperial mantle of Marlenus, had dared to lift his eyes to the
throne of Empire and place about his neck the golden medallion of a Ubar, a
thing forbidden to such as he in the myths of the Counter-Earth. Pa-Kur's
horde
had been defeated by an alliance of free cities, led by Ko-ro-ba and Thentis,
under the command of Matthew Cabot of Ko-ro-ba, the father of Tarl of Bristol,
and Kazrak of Port Kar, sword brother of the same Warrior. Tarl of Bristol
himself on the windy height of Ar's Cylinder of Justice had defeated Pa-Kur,
Master of the Assassins. From that time the black of the Assassins had not
been
seen in the streets of Glorious Ar.
Yet none would stand in the way of Kuurus for he wore on his forehead, small
and
fine, the sign of the black dagger.
When he of the Caste of Assassins has been paid his gold and has received his
charge he affixes on his forehead that sign, that he may enter whatever city