"Tamora Pierce - Protector Of The Small 4 - Lady Knight" - читать интересную книгу автора (Pierce Tamora)

than this. She eyed the door, her dripping hat and cloak, her boots, Tobe.
"Lady?" he asked quietly. "Sounds like you mean to do all manner of things for me. What was you
wishful of me doin' for you?"
"Oh, that," Kel said, realizing that she hadn't told him what duties he would have. "You'll look after my
horses and belongings, and in four years you'll be free." A will, she realized. I need to make a will so he
can be freed if I'm slain.
She picked up her water pitcher and drank from the rim. "For that, I am duty bound to see that you
are fed, clothed and educated. We'll settle things like days off. You'll learn how to clean armour and
weapons. That ought to keep you busy enough."
He nodded. "Yes, lady."
"Very well, then. Go to bed. I'm exhausted." Unbuttoning her shirt, she realized he hadn't moved.
"Bed," she said firmly. "Cover your head till I say you can come out. I won't undress while you watch."
She took her nightshirt out of a saddlebag and finished changing once Tobe was on his pallet with his
eyes hidden. In the end, she had to uncover him. He'd gone to sleep with the blanket over his head. Kel
banked the fire and blew out the last candle that burned in the room.
The killing device moved in her dreams. Blayce the Nothing Man watched it. He pointed to a child
who cowered under his worktable: it was Tobe. The metal thing reached under the table and dragged the
boy out.
Kel sat up, gasping, sweat-soaked. It was still dark, still night. The rain had stopped. She was at an inn
on the Great Road North, riding to war.
"Lady," Tobe asked, his voice clear, "what's Blayce? What's Stenmun?"
"A nightmare and his dog," Kel replied, wiping her face on her sleeve. "Go back to sleep."
The rain returned in the morning. The army's commanders decided it would be foolish to move on. Kel
used the day to finish supplying Tobe, making sure that what he had fitted properly. Tobe protested the
need for more than one set of clothes and for any shoes, saying that she shouldn't spend money on him.
"Do you want to make me look bad?" she demanded at last. "People judge a mistress by how well her
servants are dressed. Do you want folk to say I'm miserly, or that I don't know my duty?"
"Alvik never cared," Tobe pointed out as he fed the sparrows cracked corn.
"He isn't noble-born," Kel retorted. "I am. You'll be dressed properly, and that's that."
At least she could afford the sewing and shoe-fitting. She had an income, more than she had thought
she'd get as the poorly-dowered youngest daughter of a large family. For her service in the war she
received a purse from the Crown every two weeks. Raoul had advised her on investments, which had
multiplied both a legal fine once paid to her, and her portion of Lalasa's earnings. Lalasa had insisted on
that payment, saying that she would not be able to grow rich off royal custom if not for her old mistress.
It was an argument Kel had yet to win. And it did mean that she could outfit Tobe without emptying her
purse, a venture Lalasa would approve.
The rain ended that night. The army set out at dawn, Tobe riding pillion with Kel. Once they were
under way, Kel rode back along the line of march until she found the wagon that held the gear of the
first-year knights, including Hoshi's tack, spare saddle blankets, weapons and all Kel needed to tend her
arms and armour. She opened the canvas cover on the wagon and slung the boy inside with one arm.
"There's blankets under that saddle, and meat and cheese in that pack," she informed him. "Bundle up.
It's a cold ride. I'll get you when we stop for the night." She didn't wait for his answer, but tied the cover
and returned to her friends.
They ate lunch on horseback as cold rain fell again. Knights and squires huddled in the saddle,
miserable despite broad-brimmed hats and oiled cloaks to keep the wet out. Kel had extra warmth from
Jump and the sparrows, who had ducked under her cloak the moment the rain had returned.
They were crossing a pocket valley when Neal poked Kel and pointed. In the trees to their left a small
figure moved through the undergrowth, following them. Kel twitched Peachblossom off the road and into
the woods, cutting Tobe off. He stared up at her, his chin set.
"I left you in the wagon so you wouldn't get soaked," Kel informed him. He was muddy from toes to