"Dave Smeds - The Sorcery Within" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smeds Dave)

The decor was wooden тАФ extremely so. Except for a small carpet near the bed and the straw tick
mattress, everything was hard and uninviting. A large cask of ale stood in one corner, and every wall
contained shelves or racks of steins, bowls, and other utensils. Keron lifted the carpet and inspected the
planks of the floor to be certain they were immobile.

A boy brought a slab of cold meat, vegetables, and a loaf of bread. The bread was stale, and the
vegetables had simmered to the point of formlessness, but it hardly mattered. As soon as he was sure
that the boy would not return, Keron disposed of the entire meal on the compost pile, leaving only
enough scraps to make it seem as if he had eaten it. Then he drew a stein of ale and sipped tiny amounts
to pass the time.

Presently the noise of the drinking room stilled. Not long after, an obese man wearing an evening suit
embroidered with silver walked in, alone, and closed the door behind him. Their gazes met, the
straightforward glances of men who have learned to lie.

тАЬGood evening, Master Luo,тАЭ Keron said.

тАЬIтАЩve been expecting you, Captain.тАЭ

тАЬIтАЩll wager you have.тАЭ

тАЬIt was a fine trick, capturing the DragonтАЩs frigate like that.тАЭ He drew himself an ale and sat down across
from his guest.

тАЬOne gets inspired when oneтАЩs own ship is sinking out from beneath oneтАЩs feet.тАЭ

тАЬIndeed.тАЭ

Keron leaned forward. тАЬI donтАЩt like losing my ship, Luo.тАЭ

тАЬIs that an accusation?тАЭ

тАЬLetтАЩs just say IтАЩm suspicious that it happened so soon after we had last done business.тАЭ

Luo cleared his throat. тАЬI am the biggest silk producer in this province, and you Elandri royalists are my
best customers. What motive would I have to betray you to the Dragon?тАЭ

тАЬI havenтАЩt solved that one yet. Yet there was a betrayal.тАЭ

тАЬIf you think IтАЩm the one responsible, why are you here?тАЭ

тАЬMy people need silk. The last shipment is blanketing crabs and octopi off the reef.тАЭ Keron stroked his
close-cropped beard. тАЬThatтАЩs a problem. I canтАЩt let the smuggling be hamstrung, but I canтАЩt proceed
blindly, either. We both know it was unlikely that the WormтАЩs ship was there by coincidence. Either you
or your men gave me away, or one of my own men has turned traitor.тАЭ

Luo folded his hands firmly around his stein. тАЬAgreed,тАЭ he said presently. тАЬBut may I point out that I
didnтАЩt know the drop point until that very night?тАЭ

тАЬIтАЩve taken that into account.тАЭ