"Tamora Pierce - Protector Of The Small 3 - Squire" - читать интересную книгу автора (Pierce Tamora)

Enlightenment struck Kel like fireworks. He wasn't taking her as a favor, or because he liked her,
though that was nice. She would be useful to him as no one else could!
"I liked how you handled yourself when we hunted those spidrens, four years ago," Lord Raoul
explained. "You knew when to speak up and when to be quiet. Wyldon and Myles of Olau say you don't
lose your temper. After your fight with bandits three years ago, I know you can keep your head in a fix.
You'll see plenty of combat with us. I'll warn you, it's more work than most squires get. Plenty of knights
come here for the winter months, but the King's Own goes where it's needed, whatever the season. And
we'll be in the thick of all the progress antics. If you want out - if someone else you'd prefer has askedтАж"
Kel smiled at him. "I'm not afraid of work, my lord," she replied. "I would be honored to be your
squire."
"Good!" he said, grabbing her hand and giving it two firm shakes, beaming at her. "Come down to our
stables. You can bring the charmer." He nodded at Peachblossom. "He's going to move there anyway,
and I'd like you to have a look at a mare I think would suit you."
As Kel scrambled to her feet, Raoul slung an arm around her shoulders and led her out of the yard.
Kel made sure to hold out the hand that held Peachblossom's rein, keeping the gelding on her far side,
well out of reach of her new knight-master.
"See, with the Own, everyone has at least one spare horse," Raoul said. They walked down one of the
roads that crisscrossed the acres behind the palace. They were in an area of stables: those for couriers,
heralds, and officers in the army, those for visitors, and those that served the King's Own. "We live in the
saddle. One horse isn't up to all that. Your Peachblossom is heavy - you'll need a horse with good wind
and endurance to ride. You can keep Peachblossom for combat." He looked across Kel at the big
gelding. "I asked Onua - horsemistress to the Queen's Riders - to help me find a mount who could get on
with your charming horsie."
The "charming horsie" snorted, as if he understood. Kel gave his reins a tug, a silent order to behave.
"Here we are," Raoul said, taking his arm from Kel's shoulders. The insignia over the door on this
stable was familiar: a silver blade and crown on a blue field, the emblem of the King's Own. Kel,
Peachblossom, and Jump followed Raoul inside. The stable was big. There were three hundred men in
the King's Own: younger sons of nobles, wealthy merchants' sons, and Bazhir from the Southern Desert.
Each was required to supply two horses when he joined, though the company replaced those killed on
duty. Kel eyed the ones in the stalls as she walked past. These were some of the kingdom's finest
mounts.
Once the Own had been a cozy assignment for wealthy young men who liked to look good and meet
ladies with dowries. Under Lord Raoul it became the Crown's weapon, enforcing the law and helping
local nobles deal with problems too large to handle alone. Since the arrival of the strange creatures called
immortals seven years before, enforcing the law and handling problems required every warrior the
Throne could supply. Not all giants, ogres, centaurs, winged horses, and unicorns were peaceful; other,
stranger creatures saw humans only as meals. Even those who did coexist with humans had to find
homes, make treaties, and swear to obey the realm's laws.
"Here we go," Raoul said, halting. The glossy brown mare in front of them was a solid animal, smaller
than Peachblossom. She had broad shoulders and deep hindquarters, feathery white socks, and a white
star on her forehead. Kel hitched Peachblossom out of harm's way, then approached the mare and
offered a hand. The mare lowered her nose and blew softly on Kel's palm.
"Take a look at her," Raoul said. "Tell me what you think."
Kel stepped into the stall to inspect the mare thoroughly, feeling as if this were a test, at least of her
knowledge of horses. That made sense, if she was to spend time with some of the realm's finest
horsemen.
The mare's eyes were clear, her teeth sound. She seemed affectionate, butting Kel in fun. Someone
had groomed her; there were no burs or tangles in her black mane and tail, and her white socks were
clean.
"She's beautiful," Kel said finally. "Looks like she'll go forever. Not up to your weight, my lord." She