"Michael A. Stackpole - Dragon Crown Saga 3 - When Dragons Rage" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stackpole Michael A)

him.
He turned and opened his hands. тАЬSatisfied?тАЭ
тАЬFor now.тАЬ
Will slipped from the room and down the short corridor, passing AlexiaтАЩs room on the
right and KerriganтАЩs on the left. He found it annoying that both of them had retired for the
evening; he would have thought that they wanted to free Crow as badly as he did. His
irritation passed, however, when he thought about what Resolute had forced him to
consider.
Maybe theyтАЩre working on their own plans . Will smiled as he began to descend the
stairs. Alexia could figure out a way to free Crow. Kerrigan, well, Will wasnтАЩt all that certain
about the magicker, but Kerrigan had shown some spine on the retreat, so anything was
possible.
WillтАЩs descent carried him into the innтАЩs small common room and, for a moment, the
familiar din of tavern chaos made him smile. Then, slowly, the noise died as people turned
to look at him. Most of them wore masks, save for a bunch of pig farmers back in the
cold-corner. While the masks hid much of their expressions, Will did see some eyes widen,
then smiles begin to blossom.
Applause erupted spontaneously, then one corpulent man who seemed to have gained a
pound around his middle for every hair he had lost from his crown, stood and waved Will
forward. тАЬMy friends, this is Will Norrington тАФ the Norrington. HeтАЩs the one who will destroy
Chytrine. He led Princess Ryhope right here to our town. Even more importantly, heтАЩs the
one who finally delivered the Traitor to justice.тАЭ
 WillтАЩs eyes widened in horror. тАЬNo, no, thatтАЩs not it at all.тАЭ
The manтАЩs smile grew, his rosy cheeks piling up around the corners of his mouth. тАЬSee,
and modest, too! A true Oriosan hero.тАЭ
The applause grew and the insanity of it hit Will in increasing waves. These people had it
all wrong about Crow. More importantly, they were ignoring the fact that he was there
because Chytrine had crushed Fortress Draconis and before spring she could be sacking
Tolsin.
The joy on their faces stopped him from wanting to yell at them. These people knew full
well how he had come to be there. To dwell on that, however тАФ to think about their homes
being burned, their children slain, their town and their nation vanishing тАФ would drive them
insane. They were taking joy in a small victory, a small act of defiance, because it gave them
hope.
My presence gives them hope.
Will shivered. A quarter century ago the rulers of the world had destroyed Hawkins to
preserve hope for their people. Now these people would raise Will up as a symbol of hope.
He had done nothing and would be exalted, whereas Crow, who had done so much, had
been vilified.
The bald man took Will by the arm and led him to a table. тАЬAn ale for our hero. Please,
Lord Norrington, sit, sit. Join us.тАЭ
Will sat mechanically, staring at the sloshing wooden mug of ale that appeared before
him.
His host called to the minstrel by the fire. тАЬSongbird, play us something good.тАЭ The man
hesitated for a moment, then slapped Will on the back. тАЬSing to us of Squab. YouтАЩd be liking
that, wouldnтАЩt you, mтАЩlord?тАЭ
WillтАЩs eyes narrowed, as the hints of a shadow plan began to collect in his mind. тАЬYes,
yes, I would like that.тАЭ The young thief smiled up at his host. тАЬSing to me of Squab. There is
much I want to learn.тАЭ