"The Red wolf conspiracy" - читать интересную книгу автора (Redick Robert V. S)

CHATHRAND

Sorcerer, sultan, storm: never my masters, these.

No banner is so broad as my purpose,

No sea so deep as my builder's dream.

Pazel was so alarmed he nearly stumbled. The ship's name was still in Arquali, but beneath it ran a new inscription-no, the very same!-but in a tongue Pazel had never seen.

It's starting, he thought. It's starting again.

There it was: the throbbing in the back of his head, like the purr of some waking animal. Pazel gazed at the strange letters. He did not know the name of the language-but he could read it. Suddenly, perfectly. And in a burst of rage he knew what Chadfallow had done.

Fiffengurt trained his good eye on Pazel. "I know where it's written, cleverskins," he said. "But you were speaking Arquali just now."

"Was I?"

"You blary well know you were! Fancy enough for court. Who translated the Blessing for you?"

"I… I must have overheard someone," Pazel said. "On my old ship, maybe."

"Name?"

"The Eniel."

"Your name, lummox!"

"Pazel Pathkendle, sir!"

"Hmmph," said Fiffengurt. "Well, lads, Mr. Pathkendle has just recited the Builder's Blessing. All the old ships have 'em, some flimflam spoken by a mage or seer, or Rin knows who, before the ship ever touched the sea. Not all of them sound like blessings, as you just heard. Some are hexes, prophecies-curses, even, against those who'd do the ship harm. Nobody knows just what the Chathrand's builders had in mind. But listen close: we don't speak those words aboard her. Bad luck, that is, and Captain Rose won't stand for it."

He wagged a finger at Pazel. Then he gave another of his disorienting, over-your-shoulder smiles, and resumed the climb.