"Stasheff, Christopher - Warlock 04 - The Warlock Enraged" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stasheff Christopher)

issaries cannot find them."

"Not a good sign." Rod's frown darkened. "They might
have ridden off to check, and been taken."

"Or worse," Tuan agreed, "for the rumors speak of a
malignant magus, a dark and brooding power, who doth
send his minions everywhere throughout the North Country."

"Worrisome, but not a problemЧas long as all they do
is spy. I take it they don't."

"Not if rumor speaks truly. These minions, look you, are
sorcerers in their own right; and with the power they own,
added to that which they gather from their sorcerer-lord,
they defeat the local knights ere they can even come to
battle. Then the sorcerers enthrall the knights, with their
wives and children, too, and take up lordship over all the
serfs and peasants of that district."

"Not too good a deal for the knights and their families,"
Rod mused, "but probably not much of a difference, to the
serfs and peasants. After all, they're used to taking ordersЧ
what difference does it make who's giving them?"

"Great difference, if the first master was gentle, and the

14 Christopher Stasheff

second was harsh," Tuan retorted. His face was grim. "And
reports speak of actions more than harsh, from these new

masters. These sorcerers are evil."

"And, of course, the peasants can't do much, against
magic." Rod frowned. "Not much chance of fighting back."

Tuan shuddered. "Perish the thought! For peasants must
never resist orders, but only obey them, as is their divinely

appointed role."

What made Rod's blood run cold was that Tuan didn't

say it grimly or primly, or pompously, or with the pious air
of self-justification. No, he said it very matter-of-factly, as
though it were as much a part of the world as rocks and
trees and running water, and no one could even think of
debating it. How could you argue about the existence of a
rock? Especially if it had fallen on your toe...