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

All anyone wants to know here is what they can use тАУ whoтАЩs got money they can steal, where they can
get a woman, and whoтАЩs got the cheapest ale.тАЩ He patted himself on the chest.

He expected some argument, especially from a know-it-all like this one. The man obviously had no idea
what the real world was like. HeтАЩd be lucky if he didnтАЩt end up in a ditch with his head stoved in. Even
experienced travellers went on their ways wiser after passing through here. Wiser тАУ and poorer.

тАШPerhaps I should just move on, then.тАЩ

The reply brought Ghreel to another halt. In his enthusiasm to persecute this newcomer he had nearly
stepped over the mark. His hands involuntarily closed around the coins in his apron pocket and he gave
the man a quick, narrow-eyed glance. The hat and the low sun combined to prevent him from reading
anything in the shadowed face, but with an effort he forced himself to look concerned. тАШYour horse looks
as if it could do with a rest,тАЩ he said. тАШAs do you.тАЩ He tried to make his expression fatherly, but it became
a yellow-toothed leer. тАШThereтАЩll probably be something for you.тАЩ A fat thumb flicked towards the setting
sun. тАШThereтАЩs the city. And the Lowe Towns. Not to mention more than a few farms.тАЩ The leer nodded to
the east. тАШThen thereтАЩs the mines in the Thlosgaral and the Wilde Ports on the other side.тАЩ He was unable
to resist a final jibe. тАШProviding you donтАЩt mind doing real work, of course.тАЩ

Once again, to GhreelтАЩs annoyance, the man did not respond, and they entered the inn in silence.

тАШWhat is the city?тАЩ the man asked as the stagnant dimness of the drinking room embraced them. He took
off his hat. Ghreel blinked to clear his vision, then looked at him with a mixture of disbelief and suspicion.
There was no sign of mockery in the face however.

тАШWhat do you mean, whatтАЩs the city?тАЩ

тАШWhatтАЩs it called?тАЩ

The innkeeper pondered the question, testing it carefully, still suspicious. тАШArash-Felloren,тАЩ he said
eventually, speaking wanly, as if to a treacherous child. тАШYou canтАЩt not have heard about Arash-Felloren,
surely?тАЩ

The man gave a self-deprecating shrug. тАШI live far away.тАЩ

Like a hunting animal returning to its lair, Ghreel scuttled back behind the counter, and into his natural
condition. He addressed the room. тАШHear that, lads? Man hereтАЩs a teacher.тАЩ He lingered on the word.
тАШBut heтАЩs never heard of Arash-Felloren. You must have come from a very long way away, thatтАЩs all I
can say. And it must have been a quiet place.тАЩ Unfriendly laughter greeted this but the man just turned
and acknowledged it with a smile.

тАШI have, and it was,тАЩ he said. тАШBut IтАЩll take your advice. IтАЩll stay a while. Perhaps try the city tomorrow.тАЩ
He met GhreelтАЩs taunting gaze squarely. тАШIтАЩd like to rest now, if you donтАЩt mind.тАЩ

Ghreel scowled. This manтАЩs lack of response was increasingly irritating but it also gave him no excuse for
picking a quarrel.

тАШNever heard of Arash-Felloren,тАЩ he growled, loath to let the topic pass. тАШBiggest city in the world, lad.тАЩ
He was about to indulge in a scornful tirade about the strangerтАЩs chances of surviving there when the
coins in his apron reminded him that they might have cousins nearby. He contented himself with a