"Elizabeth Vaughan - Chronicles Of The Warlands 01 - Warprize" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vaughan Elizabeth)

Even I could see the sense in that.

I walked through the city, dodging animals and people, carts and wagons. It was very crowded on the
streets. People of all shapes and sizes were moving about their business before the markets closed for the
night and the Watch was about. At one intersection a cart had lost its wheel, its cargo spilled onto the
street. Men were shouting at one another, trying to clear the way. I turned down one of the side streets,
trying to avoid the mess. Here, the buildings were built tight to one another and leaned out over the
streets, blocking the light. I was glad to turn back onto one of the wide main streets and get on my way.

As I went, I could sense a difference. There seemed to be a feeling of suppressed panic in the air. Men
stood at corners, talking softly in clusters. The bargaining had a frantic sense to it. I wondered if there had
been some news of the Cat. I took another detour of sorts, moving down an alley to come out in the
spice markets. I paused before entering the flow of traffic, looking for colorful flags on poles and spotted
KalisaтАЩs cart, tucked in the entrance of another alley.
Bent half double with age, her back humped up, her fingers crooked and swollen, Kalisa was one of the
few shorter than I was. Normally, she also had the brightest smile and the best cheese in the city. But
there was no smile for me today.

тАЬLara.тАЭ Whatever else, her eyes and mind were still sharp. тАЬDonтАЩt you have an escort? ItтАЩs not safe,
child.тАЭ She tipped her head and looked me over.

тАЬKalisa, IтАЩve never had any troubleтАФтАЭ

тАЬAye, were times what they were, IтАЩd agree. Not now.тАЭ She scowled at me, even as her hands pulled out
a small wheel of hard cheese. тАЬRumor has it that our king has hired mercenaries to guard his carcass,
heathen foreigners who wander the streets terrorizing women.тАЭ

I set my jug and basket down between my feet. тАЬThe same rumor that says that the Firelanders are blue,
red, and black, and belch fire from their mouths?тАЭ

She handed me a slice of her sharpest cheese, and a thin cracker, which I took eagerly. The taste
flooded my mouth, making me aware of my hunger. It had been long since breakfast, and it tasted
wonderful. Kalisa tilted her head to be able to look into my eyes. тАЬHave you not heard?тАЭ Her face as
serious as I had ever seen.

тАЬHeard what?тАЭ

тАЬThe army has pulled back within the city walls. KingтАЩs command. Did you not hear the horns?тАЭ She cut
another slice. тАЬHeard tell that the Lord Marshall is having fits.тАЭ

The cracker and cheese was suddenly dry in my mouth. тАЬPulled back? ButтАжтАЭ

Her white head shook as she handed me another piece of cheese. тАЬChild, you need to look up from your
work once in a while, eh?тАЭ

тАЬThe last I heard, things were going well.тАЭ I swallowed hard. тАЬAt the very gates?тАЭ

тАЬEveryoneтАЩs frantic. Stripped my cart almost bare, they did. And the Watch is doubled tonight. You best
be getting home.тАЭ Kalisa nudged me. тАЬAye and look there.тАЭ