"Roger Taylor - Arash-Felloren" - читать интересную книгу автора (Taylor Roger)

Nevertheless, his position as supreme authority in such matters had to be maintained. He pursed his lips
knowingly and tossed the coins casually into his apron pocket. тАШNot one of BarranтАЩs,тАЩ he said decisively.
Little risk in that. BarranтАЩs men didnтАЩt wander about alone out here, didnтАЩt pay for anything if they could
afford it, and had no need for rooms at an inn. Further, though his entrance had been oddly disconcerting,
he did not have the presence of a fighter of any kind, least of all one of BarranтАЩs. From the hang of his
coat he wore a sword, but that signified nothing.
Curiosity suddenly got the better of him тАУ and greed. The man hadnтАЩt haggled, so obviously he wasnтАЩt
short of money. Either that or he was simple.

тАШBetter see what heтАЩs up to,тАЩ he said, propelling himself away from the counter. The room shook under
the impact of his heavy footfalls as he rolled across to the door. Riever took half a step after him, then
changed his mind and returned to his table.

Outside, the setting sun, made almost blood-red by the dayтАЩs dust banging in the air, flooded the
landscape and turned the innтАЩs untidy yard into a patchwork of unfamiliar shadows. Ghreel screwed up
his eyes then grimaced as a warm and dank breeze wound itself about him like a clinging blanket. He
unearthed a soiled kerchief from a deep pocket and ran it over his face as he made an undulating
progress toward the open stable door.

As the various parts of Ghreel came to an unsteady standstill in the doorway, the stranger was rubbing
water over the muzzle of his horse. He turned to face the panting innkeeper. Despite the heat, he had
replaced his hat and Ghreel felt himself the object of an intense scrutiny even though he could not see the
manтАЩs eyes.

тАШGot everything you need?тАЩ The words blustered out of him.

The man led his horse to a stall and whispered to it before turning back to Ghreel.

тАШYes, thank you,тАЩ he said, hitching his pack on to his shoulder and picking up two saddlebags. тАШCould
you show me my room?тАЩ

Once again, the soft voice and quiet manner left Ghreel at a loss, throwing him, untypically, into
politeness. тАШAre you travelling on, or looking for work hereabouts?тАЩ he asked as he motioned the man
back to the inn.

тАШBoth,тАЩ came the reply. тАШIтАЩll need to work for a little while until IтАЩve enough money to move on.тАЩ

It gave Ghreel the opportunity he had been waiting for. тАШWhatтАЩs your trade?тАЩ he asked.

тАШIтАЩm a teacher.тАЩ

тАШTeacher!тАЩ Ghreel exclaimed. He wobbled to a halt and looked at his companion with a combination of
disbelief and distaste. тАШTeacher!тАЩ He was in his element now тАУ he hated тАШcleverтАЩ people. His inadvertent
politeness vanished. тАШWhat do you think youтАЩre going to teach around here?тАЩ He waved a dismissive
hand and set off again.

тАШWhatever people want to learn.тАЩ The answer showed no sign of irritation at the innkeeperтАЩs attitude,
which soured further as a consequence.

тАШThatтАЩs precisely nothing,тАЩ Ghreel retorted, with a sneer. тАШOr at least nothing that comes out of a book.