"Kim Hunter - [The Red Pavillions 03] - Scabard's Song v1.0" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hunter Kim - [The Red Pavillions 03] - Scabard's Song)

СYou heard. I will meet you all, one after another, in single combat, here, today. If the first one kills me, so be it. But I think he will not. I think I will kill at least a hundred of you, if not more, before I tire. You saw me fight Vau? He was your best single fighter, your champion. I slew him with so much ease it made your eyes water to watch me. You dog-warriors, you are fine in packs, but alone you cannot match me. Remember Vau? He was a great braggart, but a poor champion. I took his head from his shoulders and held it up, worked the jaws to make him bark in death, like a puppet. One after the other then, you cannot refuse. Otherwise where is your pride? Where is your code? Where is your honour?Т
They howled again, this time with a note of despair in their voices.
Soldier drew his sword and made a practice swish at the air.
СAnd after him,Т cried Golgath, also swinging out of the saddle, Сwill come me! I too challenge the whole pack to single combat.Т
СAnd,Т gulped Spagg, his legs shaking, Сme.Т
СWo first then,Т said Soldier.
But a young dog-warrior rushed forward, swinging a club. Soldier stepped aside from the blow aimed at his head, and swiped through the club at the handle. The weapon was in two pieces, the young warrior staring stupidly at the stump gripped in his hands. Then he realised the point of SoldierТs sword was at his throat. He whined a death-song, expecting to be run through. Soldier stayed his hand.
СWe have not come to kill, we have come to seek a sword.-I want no deaths, but I will take them if I have to.Т
A large dog-head, surrounded by a retinue of others, barked something at Wo. This was undoubtedly an alpha chieftain, if not a king amongst them. It seemed Wo tried to argue. The bark from the king of dogs came louder and more forcefully. Wo hung his head for a moment, then looked up. He had had his orders. He nodded at Soldier.
СNo deaths. You very clever man, to challenge single combat before we swarm all over you. Very clever. If we swarm you, we kill you quick, but we see you fight one-on-one and know you very bad man inside. Very bad. I think you kill too many of us in single fight. Oh yes, in the end you die, but only after many of our pack. How you know we must say yes to single combat challenge? Very clever. I will do finding for you. Then you will go and we will come after you, catch you before border, and cut you down. Wo looks forward to tearing pieces out of Soldier.Т
СThank you.Т
Soldier, Golgath and Spagg camped down by a stream, well away from the ground-holes and mud-dwellings of the locals. The first thing Golgath did was go along the bank of the stream and collect aromatic herbs. These he cast liberally around the camp site. This was to counteract the damp odour of dogs, which was powerful enough to drive anyone to distraction, even Spagg, whom no one could accuse of being fragrant. Thankfully they were upwind of the dog-people, but just occasionally the wind felt it necessary to create a back-draught, and the stink that wafted over was unbearable.
Although they kept a guard for the first night, they were not molested. They split the night into three, with Spagg doing the first watch, Golgath the middle and Soldier bringing up the rag end of the small hours. No one bothered them. Watchfires burned in the villages over the rise, filling the heaven with light and blocking out the sharp points of the stars.
Beast-people were not that much interested in what was above their heads. They were, like most animals, ravenous a lot of the time, and if not eating it, out hunting and gathering food. Every so often during the night one nervous bark would set off a whole chorus of them, often ending in group howling, before some organised watch went around the mud dwellings and hammered on the doors with sticks, to restore quiet.
Must be in their dog-nature, thought Soldier. Difficult when you are half-beast, half-man.
In the grey dawn Soldier took a short walk, away from the direction of the dog-men, to get the stiffness out of his limbs. The scenery was scrubland: mostly hard, sandy soil, with the occasional thorn bush or hardy shrub to break the monotony. The beast-people certainly had the poorest land in the region.
No crops would grow out here, in this desert landscape. Any game would consist of small tough birds or the occasional rabbit colony. Such a harsh environment was likely to breed savage and hostile creatures such as the dog-warriors and their animal-headed cousins. Raiding and pillaging was probably their only means of obtaining supplies.
An idea suddenly came to Soldier, which made him stop in his tracks. It was a crazy notion, but he was desperate to get inside Zamerkand. He decided to put the scheme to Golgath and get his reaction.
It was while he was mulling over his latest plan that he saw a snake grappling with a heron. It was a few seconds before he realised that it was the serpent that was in trouble. The heron was attempting to eat the snake. Soldier ran forward, waving his arms, and the bird let go of its prey and took to the air. The snake wriggled away in the dust, finding the shelter of a rock. Why Soldier had reacted thus, he himself had no idea. It was purely a spontaneous gesture. But of course the reptile appreciated it and called out, СI am beloved of the goddess Kist and your reward for saving me is three single commands, to be used over insects, reptiles or birds. Use them wisely, warrior.Т With that the creature was gone, under the stone.
СWell, there you have it,Т said Soldier cheerfully to himself. СYou go out for a short walk and come back with a reward.Т
He had no idea how or when he would use his commands, but he had no doubt that at some time or another they would be useful to him.
When he got back to the camp he found the raven waiting.
СOh, there you are. I thought maybe the dog-warriors were cooking bits of you in their old black pots.Т
СNo, I am well, thank you for asking.Т
СA purple heron just told me you stole his breakfast. ThatТs bad. You canТt make enemies of us birds, you know. We rule the air. YouТll get shat on from here to the Cerulean Sea and back again.Т
Soldier ignored this attempt to draw him into an argument.
СHow is my wife? What use are you to me if you canТt give me news of home?Т
СSheТs well enough. Kaff has been to visit her.Т
СYou always say that when IТm away.Т
СItТs true. He came to make love to the Princess Layana, but she sent him away with a flea in his ear.Т
Soldier glowered. СWhy didnТt someone cut him down?Т
СFlag of truce and all that.Т
СDamn the flag of truce - IТd have chopped him where he stood.Т
СThatТs why he waited until you were gone, before coming out from behind the walls. HeТs still saying heТs going to have your head on a trencher, before the yearТs out. Humbold wasnТt with him, of course. Humbold was too busy executing Guthrumites. He wonТt have any citizens left if he goes on like this much longer.Т
СWe must get inside those walls,Т growled Soldier. СItТs imperative we do so soon.Т He went over and kicked Spagg lightly awake.
СWhaa . . . ?Т cried Spagg, rolling over. СWhat was that for?Т
СTime to make breakfast. Wo will be here soon.Т
Golgath stirred and sat up. He saw the raven. СThat bloody bird here again?Т
СYes, thank you for asking,Т said the raven, mimicking the tone Soldier had used with him a few moments previously. СAnd how are you, sludge-for-brains?Т
СOne of these days, bird, IТll pluck you alive.Т
Golgath rose and went down to the stream to wash. When Spagg walked upstream to piss in the very same water, GolgathТs roar of protest almost took his head off his shoulders. Spagg came back looking confused and ruffled. СWhereТs a man supposed to do his business,Т he grumbled, Сif not in the stream?Т
СIf you have to, do it downstream,Т said Soldier, Сbut why do it in the stream at all?Т
СJust seems natural to do it in flowing water.Т
The raven said, СI see you and your merry band of men are still on the best of terms, Soldier. Everything well organised and working efficiently. Who said you were a barbarian? Well, IТm off. If you donТt see me, then you know everythingТs much the same back at the old farmstead. If you do see me, it might not be bad news, but prepare for it anyway.Т
With that, the black bird flew off, into the azure sky.
Wo came down to the camp mid-way through the morning.
СI come to talk now,Т he said. СWe find you sword.Т
He sat cross-legged on the ground, his head looking heavy on his shoulders.
СBad night?Т enquired Golgath.
СI not sleep good,Т agreed the dog-warrior. СToo many howl-ings. Dog-people nervous with humans nearby. Can smell the stink of human sweat and human breath. Make them uneasy. Then Wo go drink ysip, to make for sleep, but just get waking drunk and not sleepy.Т