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

His grandmother? Sterren was even more baffled than before. He had been
seven when she died and he remembered her mostly as a friendly, wrinkled face
and a warm voice telling impossible tales. His grandfather, who had raised him
after all the others were dead, had missed her terribly and had spoken of her
often, explaining how he had brought her back from a tiny little kingdom on
the very edge of the world, talking about how she got along so well with
everyone so long as she got her way.
"Her name was Tanissa the Stubborn, I think; she came from the Small
Kingdoms somewhere." As did these four, he realized, or at least three of
them. The questions suddenly began to make sense. She must have stolen
something, or committed some heinous offense, and they had finally tracked her
down.
It had certainly taken them long enough. Surely they wouldn't carry their
revenge to the third generation! "She's dead," he added helpfully.
"Was she ever called Tanissa of Semma?"
"I don't know; I never heard her called that."
There was another exchange in the familiar but incomprehensible language,
including his grandmother's name as well as his own. By the end of it the
woman seemed excited and was smiling.
The smile didn't look vindictive, but that was very little comfort;
whatever crime his grandmother had committed must have been half a century
ago, and this woman could scarcely have been born then. She wasn't exactly
young, but she didn't look that old -- and she didn't look young enough to be
using a youth spell. She must have been sent on the hunt by someone else;
perhaps her father or mother was the wronged party. In that case she'd be glad
to have the job done, but would have no reason for personal dislike.
A glance to either side showed the two soldiers as impassive as ever, and
he wondered whether they understood what was going on any better than he did.
The interpreter, as the sailor apparently was, turned back to Sterren and
asked, "Do you have any family?"
"No." He didn't think it was worth trying to lie.
"No wife?"
Sterren shook his head.
"What about your mother?"
"She died bearing me." Perhaps, he thought, they would take pity on him
because he was an orphan.
"Since you're the eldest, there could scarcely be brothers or sisters if
she died bearing you. What about old Kelder, your grandfather?"
It occurred to Sterren, a bit belatedly, that he was removing the
possibility of spreading the blame or getting off on grounds of family
support; but it was too late already, and he continued to tell the truth. "He
died three years ago. He was an old man."
"Uncles? Aunts? Cousins?"
"None."
"Your other grandparents?"
"Dead before I was born, from drinking bad water."
"Good!" the sailor said with a smile. "Then you should be able to leave
immediately!"
"What?" Sterren exclaimed. "Leave where? I'm not going anywhere!" He made
no attempt to hide his surprise and indignation.