"Karl Edward Wagner - Ravens Eyrie" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wagner Karl Edward)

right. You caught them in my inn. You might still be trailing them
if they hadn't stopped here."
Pleddis seemed to be weakening. "They might pay extra if he's
alive."
"I've given you food and lodging here," argued Ionor. "The
extra gold will be less than payment."
"But you owe me your lives for saving you from Kane's men,"
Pleddis pointed out. The game amused him.
"Should I add Kane's head to the others?" broke in Eriall.
 "Not when they'll pay me five hundred ounces of gold for
Kane," Pleddis brayed. "For that I'll bring in the whole carcass.
Bad as they want Kane, they'll likely pickle him in brine and put
him on display. Bet they could charge admission just to see him.
Bet they will, in fact!
"No, it's cold enough we can sling him over a horse, and he'll
last until we can get back to Nostoblet. They won't care what he
smells like there. Stundorn, take a few men and drag Kane's body
down here. We'll leave him in the stables where the frost will
keep him from getting ripe too fast. Watch that the dogs don't get
at him."
They had left Kane where he lay when they found him dead.
Several minutes had passed since then, in the confused aftermath
of Pleddis's attack on the inn. But now the captain's attention
returned to the prize quarry of his hunt. Stundorn and some
others disappeared up the stairs.
"Weed, I'm still not sure what to do with you," he continued.
"Hang him," Ionor pleaded, her memory reliving a scene eight
years back. A memory of familiar faces turning purple, of limbs
thrashing a death dance from an impromptu gallows, while
murder-crazed animals roared in laughter below.
"I suppose I can grant the request of a handsome lady,"
gallantly remarked Pleddis, thinking that his hostess had a
definite beauty beneath the harsh mask of hatred.
Weed forced himself to speak with scornful assurance.
"Grant it and be damned. I can't hope for any better in
Nostoblet. And I'll die with the secret of Kane's hidden cache of
loot."
It was a foolish bluff, he realized in panic. But against
imminent death, any respite would offer hope.
 "Well, now..." began Pleddis, his eyes lighting with sudden
interest.
Stundorn burst onto the balcony, his bearing totally shaken.
"Kane's gone!" he blurted.




V
To Chase the Dead