The Complete Darkwar Trilogy: Flight of the Night Hawks, Into a Dark Realm, Wrath of a Mad God. Raymond E. Feist

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СКАЧАТЬ stand here without a weapon, so I’m inclined to tell you anything you wish to know, little man. Shall we have peace?’

      ‘Peace?’ echoed Nakor, looking at Tomas.

      Tomas nodded. He reversed Bek’s sword and handed it to him. ‘Peace.’

      The young man re-sheathed it and said, ‘So, there is some treasure in there, then?’

      Nakor shook his head. ‘Gold and gems, no. But there is something of special interest to us and it would bring nothing but ill to anyone else. It is important, but it is also very dangerous.’

      ‘I’ll not dispute him again,’ said Bek, indicating Tomas, ‘just to see if you are lying or not. But what could be more valuable than riches?’

      ‘Knowledge is always valuable,’ said Tomas.

      ‘And dangerous, I have found,’ said Bek. He motioned to his horse. ‘If you have no objection, I should catch up with my companions. They are an unruly and troublesome bunch without me to tell them what to do. Besides, they’ll have drunk the inn at Dankino half dry by the time I get there.’

      ‘Actually,’ said Nakor, putting his hand on Bek’s arm – a soft gesture, but one which stopped the larger man immediately, ‘I was wondering if you would care to earn some gold in a more honest fashion than brawling?’

      ‘What do you mean?’

      Nakor pointed to Tomas and said, ‘He guards the stuff I need to study. If we had another pair of sharp eyes and keen ears here, Tomas could return home and spend some time with his family.’

      ‘Dragon Lords have families?’ said Bek, a look of surprise on his face.

      Nakor grinned and almost giggled when he said, ‘Where do you think little Dragon Lords come from?’

      Tomas shook his head, but a warning glance from Nakor kept him silent. He didn’t know the Isalani gambler as well as Pug did, but over the years he had developed a respect for his instincts. If the little man wanted Bek to remain, there had to be a good reason.

      Bek laughed at Nakor’s joke. ‘What does it pay?’

      ‘Straight to the point,’ said Nakor. ‘I like that. We’re pretty out-of-the-way here, but as you’ve just demonstrated, sometimes things happen that you don’t anticipate. We’ll pay you handsomely.’

      ‘How handsomely?’

      ‘Two gold coins a day, plus food.’

      ‘For how long?’

      ‘For as long as it takes,’ responded Nakor.

      Bek lost his smile. ‘A few coins for a few days work guarding a cave from wild dogs and the occasional bandit is one thing, little man. But I wouldn’t welcome camping out here for longer than a week or so, even if I was paid three gold coins a day.’

      ‘You have somewhere else to be?’ asked Tomas.

      Bek threw back his head and laughed. ‘Not particularly, but I always find it difficult to stay in one place for very long. My father used to hunt me down and beat me when he found me.’

      Nakor’s eyes narrowed at the description. ‘You left home when you were, what? Thirteen, fourteen?’

      ‘Thirteen,’ said Bek, examining Nakor’s face. ‘How did you know that?’

      ‘I’m familiar with the story,’ said Nakor. ‘Would three gold coins a day make you a more patient man?’

      Beck shrugged. ‘For three, I’ll give you a month, but after that I’ll want to go somewhere with beautiful whores and good ale to spend it!’

      Nakor grinned. ‘Done.’

      Tomas said, ‘Nakor, a word if you please,’ and directed the little man to join him on the other side of the cave. Softly, Tomas asked, ‘Are you certain you wish to do this?’

      Nakor’s sunny expression vanished. ‘Not wish, must. This lad is … not ordinary.’

      ‘I cannot argue with that, Nakor. Of all the mortal swordsmen I have faced, he is easily the most dangerous. There is something supernatural about him.’

      ‘Exactly. His story sounded familiar because it is very similar to my own. I was that boy in a way. I had the same problems staying at home, and my father used to beat me too. I ran away when I was very young. It’s – it’s all the same!’

      Glancing at the young swordsman, then back at the little gambler, he said, ‘Not entirely the same.’

      ‘Granted, I became a card cheat and he became a bandit, but the point is we have much in common. And it’s the same story that Macros told of his youth. It’s too much to be a simple coincidence. I wish to explore that further.’

      ‘There’s more, isn’t there?’

      ‘You remember the old saying: “keep your friends close and your enemies closer”, Tomas?’

      Tomas said, ‘I remember.’

      ‘I think we want this lad to stay very close indeed. If my instincts are not playing me false and there’s an advantage to be had from this encounter, I’ll find it.’

      ‘No doubt you will. Now, what do you want me to do?’

      ‘Go home for a while. I’ll keep an eye on Bek and I’ll keep a watch on the cave until Magnus gets back from Kelewan. I have some ideas about how to control those things in there that I want to discuss with him.’

      Tomas said, ‘Very well. I am pleased to be returning to my queen so soon.’

      ‘Do you need an orb?’ Nakor asked as he pulled a shiny metal object from his rucksack and offered it to Tomas.

      ‘Thank you. I could call a dragon to take me, but it does attract notice. And anyway, this is faster,’ he said, pressing a button with his thumb before disappearing.

      Nakor turned to Bek and said, ‘Do you have any food in that saddlebag?’

      ‘Not really.’

      Nakor approached the young man and drew a round object out of his sack. Tossing it to Bek, who caught it in the air, he said, ‘Want an orange?’

      Bek smiled. ‘Love one.’ He began to peel it with his thumb. ‘What do we do now?’

      ‘We wait for some friends. You out here; me in there.’ He pointed at the cave mouth.

      ‘One thing,’ said Bek.

      ‘What?’

      ‘The three gold. It starts today.’

      Nakor shrugged. ‘OK, then make yourself useful and get some wood for a fire.’

      Bek laughed and turned to hunt firewood.

      

      Bek СКАЧАТЬ