"Lawrence Watt-Evans - Dus 2 - Seven Altars of Dusarra" - читать интересную книгу автора (Watt-Evans Lawrence)

Is that not Skelleth?" He pointed to the flickering watch fire. The third
overman pulled up beside them as well as Garth replied, "Yes, of course that
is Skelleth, and that is where we're going." "Then why have we left the
road? These yackers are quite slow enough as it is." It was, the third
overman who replied, "Larth, did not Garth explain our situation to you?"
"I remember nothing that explains our turning away from our destination."
"Then you remember nothing. We are to enter the town in secrecy." "It was not
you I asked, Galt." "Galt, however, speaks correctly," Garth said. "The
Baron of Skelleth does not want overmen in his town; most especially, he does
not want me there. When last I saw him he ordered his guards to kill me on the
spot. Fortunately, they did not cooperate. However, if we can present the
Baron with a peaceful trading caravan in the market square, not as a
possibility but as an accomplished fact, I think he can be made to see reason
and accept us." "So we are to sneak in like thieves?" "Why else are we
travelling by night?" Galt's tone was sweetly reasonable. "It is not
dignified!" "And what would be dignified?" Garth inquired. "To ride directly
in by daylight, and demand as our due that we be allowed to trade." Galt
snorted. "That might be dignified, but it would also be stupid, perhaps
fatally so. Garth says there are more than thirty guardsmen in Skelleth; true,
they are mere humans, and none too well equipped by his account, but there are
only four of us, and we are not exactly well armed either." Garth added,
before Larth could reply, "It would not do for friendly traders to be
bristling with weapons; we cannot risk incidents involving bloodshed. That is
why I required that you three be unarmed, and I will conceal my own weapons
before we begin our dealings with the people of Skelleth." "Quite correct."
Galt nodded in agreement. Larth continued to look unconvinced. "Still," he
demanded, "why have we left the road?" His answer came from the fourth and
youngest overman, who had not yet spoken, showing the proper deference to his
elders; he could not, however, refrain from replying, "Because there's a guard
on the road, stupid!" Larth's voice was emotionless as he said, "Galt,
restrain your apprentice." As all knew quite well, that flat tone was
indicative of building rage; Galt did not hesitate to order his underling to
shut up. When Larth had calmed somewhat, he asked, "How do you know that we
can find another entrance unguarded?" "I don't know for certain," Garth
said. "But when I was here before, they guarded only the north; the West Gate
opens on a road that leads only to the Yprian Coast, which has reputedly been
deserted for centuries, so what need to guard it? Therefore, we will enter
through the West Gate. We will reach it by circling wide around, well out of
sight and sound of the guard at the North Gate. Now, if we are to reach the
market square before dawn we must move onward, so let there be no further
debate." His warbeast, in response to a signal undetectable to the others,
strode onward. "Very well," Larth said. It took rather more to get his
yackers moving once again, but a moment's prodding eventually registered with
their dim brains and they resumed their plodding and snuffling. Galt and his
apprentice were not far behind. There was still an hour remaining before
first light when the little caravan reached the West Gate-which was, as Garth
had expected, unguarded. It was also in such a state of total ruin that only
the fading trace of an ancient road leading through the rubble showed where it
had been, and it was only under protest that the yackers could be compelled to
make their way across the jagged bits of broken stone. Garth's war beast paid