"Karl Edward Wagner - Kane 06 - The Book Of Kane" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wagner Karl Edward)

gathered about him. тАЬWho is it that comes calling on a night fit only for ice phantoms and destroys the
sleep of honest folk!тАЭ he blustered good-naturedly.

тАЬHush, Father!тАЭ whipped Breenanin. тАЬHeтАЩs injured and nearly frozen!тАЭ

тАЬEh?тАЭ muttered the lord of the castle curiously, and he made a vaguely sympathetic noise to mollify his
daughter.

Kane shrugged off the servantsтАЩ hands and drew himself to his feet, reeling momentarily in pain and
dizziness before he straightened. He met his hostтАЩs curious gaze and announced formally, тАЬForgive this ill
timed and unannounced intrusion. IтАЩve been wandering through this waste for several days when the
storm caught me, and I had about given out before I happened on this castle. My horse fell in your court,
and I was unconscious until a moment ago. Had your servants not found me, I would have frozen solid
by morning.тАЭ
тАЬIn the court, you say?тАЭ said the other in puzzlement. тАЬHow the hell did you make it past the gate?тАЭ

тАЬIt was unlocked when I tried it,тАЭ returned Kane. тАЬMost fortunate that someone neglected it.тАЭ

тАЬMaybe so, but that kind of carelessness can get you murdered in bed.Gregig ! CanтАЩt you remember
your duties just because we get a little snow!тАЭ

The porter looked most unhappy. тАЬMilord, I distinctly remember locking the gate when the storm hit. I
canтАЩt understand it.тАЭ

тАЬMmm!тАЭ intoned his master. тАЬWell, is it locked now?тАЭ

тАЬYes, milord!тАЭ the porter said hurriedly; then uneasily, тАЬIt was locked when I checked itтАФafter finding
the stranger.тАЭ

тАЬAt least even a near snowman has more sense than some fat porters.тАЭ

тАЬThe wind must have shut itтАФfor I didnтАЩt,тАЭ Kane broke in.

He received a suspicious stare from his host. тАЬThat isnтАЩt possible,тАЭ he stated. Then he shrugged.
тАЬPerhaps the fall shook up your memory a bit. Not uncommon, I suppose.тАЭ

Kane remained silent.

тАЬWell, anyway youтАЩre inside. Welcome to my somewhat chilly manor! I am Baron Troylin of Carrasahl,
and the underfed cupbearer there is my daughter, Breenanin. You are welcome to my hospitality until this
blizzard lets up and you feel like moving on. WeтАЩre always glad for some company from the outside
world hereтАФbreaks the monotony.тАЭ He laughed, тАЬThe way that blizzardтАЩs carrying on, it looks like weтАЩre
all going to be snowbound for some while.тАЭ

Kane bowed. тАЬYou are most gracious. I am deeply thankful for your hospitality,тАЭ he said formally,
speaking the Carrasahli with little difficulty. He watched his company cautiously. тАЬMy name is Kane.тАЭ
There was no reaction, so he went on. тАЬMy profession is fighting, but at present I am without a position. I
was heading toward Enseljos to see if Winston could use my services in his border war withChectalos ,
but I strayed off course trying to save some miles from the usual trails. When the storm caught me, I was
very well on my way to being lost.тАЭ