"Mary Kirchoff. Kendermore ("Dragonlance Preludes I" #2) (angl)" - читать интересную книгу автора

Tas could almost guess Woodrow's next words. He knew, from his
friend Sturm Brightblade, that the Knights of Solamnia, once the
peacekeepers of the realm, had lived in persecution and fear from the
common people in the region of Solamnia. Many of those people wrongly
blamed the knights for the Cataclysm, which Tas found difficult to
understand, no matter how many times Sturm explained it. Sturm's
father was a knight who had sent his wife and then young son to the
south until things quieted down. Sturm never heard from his father
again.

"About ten years ago, my father came to the aid of a neighboring
farmer," Woodrow continued. "The man was wounded and claimed that
several men who looked like knights had looted his home and left him
for dead.

My father was trying to help the man to his feet when other
neighbors, alerted by the farmer's cries, as had my father, came
storming into the cottage, bearing pitchforks and axes. They saw a
Solamnic Knight standing over the injured farmer, and without a
question, they struck him down." Woodrow's voice was even and clear,
but his eyes watered. "The farmer tried to stop them, but he was too
late. He tearfully told us later of my father's senseless death."

Tas's tender heart was near to bursting. "And your mother?" He
blew his nose on his sleeve.

"She died miscarrying my brother shortly after." Woodrow stared
into the flames.

For once Tas didn't know what to say. Then he had an - idea.
"You could visit my parents with me when we get to Kendermore - if
they're still there, that is."

"That's awfully kind of you," Woodrow said, "but it wouldn't be
the same."

Tas frowned. "I suppose not. Is that why you're with Gisella?"

"Sort of," Woodrow said slowly. "After my parents died, my uncle
- Father's brother - took me in."

"That was nice of him," interjected Tas, trying to sound
cheerful.

"Father and Uncle Gordon were very close." Woodrow added another
log to the fire. "I've thought about it a lot, and I believe he hoped
to bring my father back through me. He was always saying how much I
looked like Father. Anyway, he wanted me to be his squire, and day
after day we trained." Woodrow shook his head sadly. "But I knew how