"Lawrence Watt-Evans - Ethshar 3 - The Unwilling Warlord" - читать интересную книгу автора (Watt-Evans Lawrence)

The officers still stared silently.
"You aren't making this easy," Sterren said, blinking at them.
"Lord Sterren," Shemder said, "you still haven't told us what you want of
us."
"What I want," Sterren said, "is to know what I, your warlord, am
expected to do. I want you three to tell me."
The three exchanged looks.
"My lord," Shemder said, "it is not our place to tell you what to do. It
is your job to tell us what to do."
Sterren suppressed a sigh. Whether they resented the elevation of a
stranger as their superior, or whether they were testing him somehow, or
whether they were simply stupid or stubborn or unimaginative, Sterren had no
way of knowing, but he could see plainly enough that his officers were not
going to be a great deal of help.
At least, not at first. Perhaps they would adjust eventually.
"Lord Shemder--" he began.
"I am no lord," Shemder interrupted.
Sterren acknowledged the correction with a nod and said, "Shemder, then,
tell me your duties."
"My duties. Lord Sterren?"
"Yes, your duties." He hoped he hadn't gotten the wrong word.
"I-have no duties at present, my lord; I am the commander of the Semman
cavalry, not a mere guardsman."
"Cavalry?" The word was unfamiliar.
"Cavalry."
Sterren looked at Alder, who supplied, "Soldiers on horses."
Sterren nodded, filing the word away. "Cavalry. Good. You're the
commander of the Semman cavalry. Do you have a particular title? Do I call you
my lord, or commander?"
"Captain, my lord," Shemder said grimly. "You call me Captain."
 "Thank you. Captain Shemder. And Captain Arl, is it?"
"Yes, Lord Sterren." Where Shemder had sounded barely tolerant of his new
lord, Arl sounded resigned and despairing.
"Captain of what?"
"Infantry, my lord, foot soldiers."
Sterren nodded politely, appreciative of Arl's trace of cooperation in
explaining an unfamiliar word without forcing Sterren to ask.
"And Captain Anduron?"
"Lord Anduron, my lord. I am your second in command, in charge of
everything that Captain Arl and Captain Shemder are not, archers, the castle
garrison, supply, and so forth." He spoke with studied nonchalance, sprawling
comfortably on his chair.
"Ah!" That sounded promising, especially once Alder and Lord Anduron
between them had explained the unfamiliar words. Sterren wondered if he could
palm off all his duties on Lord Anduron and leave himseif to enjoy his
position as a figurehead. Lord Anduron had a look of cool competence about him
that Sterren hoped was not mere affectation. "How many archers are there?" he
asked.
Lord Anduron's reply burst Sterren's bubble instantly.
"None, at present," he said calmly.