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

тАЬOne of the prisoners?тАЭ Estoval sniffed, but his merchantтАЩs instincts won out. тАЬYou might try the tinkerтАЩs
cart three stores down, if he is there. I think he has snuck out of the city and is trading with the warlordтАЩs
men. Mention my name, Daughter of Xy.тАЭ

I nodded my regal thanks, and headed off in the direction heтАЩd indicated.

I spotted the tinkerтАЩs cart easily, decorated with pots and pans, and ribbons aflutter in the breeze. I
paused for a bit, since he was dealing with a customer, a tall, broad-shouldered man in armor. I occupied
myself by looking over his wares. There was all matter of trinkets and metalware that gleamed in the
sunlight. After a bit, the tinker turned his attentions to me.

тАЬHow may I help you?тАЭ His eyes gleamed in anticipation.

I smiled. тАЬI am in no hurry.тАЭ

The tinker winked. тАЬThis fellow canтАЩt make up his mind. While he ponders, you and I will treat. What can
I interest you in?тАЭ

тАЬEstoval told me that you might be able to help me. I am looking for some kavage.тАЭ

He wrinkled his nose. тАЬUgh. What would you be wanting with that foul stuff?тАЭ

тАЬI am tending some of the prisoners. One mentioned that it is a drink that they enjoy.тАЭ I wavered,
thinking. тАЬIs it some form of spirits?тАЭ I had visions of trying to explain a tent full of drunken prisoners.
Xymund would kill me.

тАЬNo.тАЭ A deep voice with a faint accent answered me. I turned to see the other customer looking at me.
Short black hair and skin tanned dark by the sun caught my eye, but what startled me were his bright
blue eyes. Tall, with broad shoulders, he seemed to tower over me and the tinker, almost blocking the
sun. My guess was he was one of the mercenaries that had been hired by some of the wealthier lords to
guard their lives.
The tinker laughed and agreed. тАЬThe land take me, no. It is truly foul tasting stuff that they make by
dripping water through seeds.тАЭ He started to rummage through his cart, head and shoulders stuffed into
one of its compartments. His muffled voice floated back at me. тАЬIn truth, I traded for some a while back,
but once I tasted it,тАЭ He emerged with a good sized sack and some kind of strange metal implement. тАЬI
knew I could never sell this here. The citizens would cry themselves poisoned and the City Guard would
be on my neck.тАЭ His eyes gleamed. тАЬI will sell it to you, fine lady, but give me no blame when it eats at
your insides.тАЭ

тАЬWell then,тАЭ I replied with a smile тАЬmust not be worth much.тАЭ

The tinker tried for an offended look, but burst out in a laugh. тАЬAh, Lady, you have the advantage.тАЭ

We dickered a bit, just to be polite, but were quick to come to terms. I paid him, well satisfied with my
purchase. The tinker was kind enough to give me a sack to carry the beans and the pot in. As I toddled
off with my burdens, I heard him call behind me. тАЬCome again, lady, and buy some more of my wares.тАЭ
If my hands had not been full, IтАЩd have waved farewell.

тАЬThey drink it with milk.тАЭ The man with the bright blue eyes had moved up next to me, walking, matching