The Riftwar Legacy: The Complete 4-Book Collection. Raymond E. Feist

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СКАЧАТЬ the details, but it seems the Brotherhood of Riverpullers has raised prices to the point where merchants can’t afford to have their goods hauled up or down the river, and the other guilds are lining up in opposition to the Riverpullers. Both sides are hiring swords, and, for all I know, the Earl of Romney has declared martial law by now. Hell, for all I know, the city is in flaming ruin.’ He slapped the table for emphasis, as if he didn’t care whether Romney did go up in flames.

      ‘And besides this tour to get things in hand, we’re showing the King is personally interested; the banners are waving in front of people who need to see them, and I’m also required by His Majesty to give a lecture tonight.’

      ‘Lecture?’ asked James, barely able to keep from laughing. ‘On what? And to whom?’

      Guy sighed. ‘On the Battle of Armengar, and to anyone who wants to listen.’ He shook his head as if he couldn’t believe his own words. ‘You know that thug, Graves, who the Ishapians sent here to start that new abbey?’

      James nodded. ‘I knew Ethan before he heard the call. He was a rough one in those days; one of the better bashers in the Mockers.’

      ‘I can believe it. In any event, he has decided, or rather the Ishapian Temple in Rillanon has decided, that a school is to be built here, in Malac’s Cross, “the centre of the Kingdom”, and that young nobles are to attend. They call it a collegium.’ He lowered his voice a bit. ‘I think they’re distrustful of what our friend Pug is doing down in Stardock and think they may gain by having a similar venue for influencing the young nobles of the Kingdom. And I think they also want a base near …’ His eyes flickered from Gorath to Owyn, and he let his words lapse.

      James knew what he was about to say: near Sethanon and the Lifestone, so all he did was nod slightly. Glancing around the room, James said, ‘I don’t notice a lot of young nobles in the area, Guy.’

      Guy reached across the table and attempted to give James a playful slap to the head, which James adroitly avoided. ‘You always were a smart mouth, Jimmy, and you always will be a smart mouth.’ James grinned. ‘Even if you some day get your wish and connive to be named Duke of Krondor, you’ll still be a smart mouth.’

      James laughed. ‘Maybe. Now, where are these young nobles?’

      Guy sighed. ‘A few will wander in from surrounding estates, no doubt. That’s why I rode all night to get here. Damn weather had my ship reaching Salador two days late, so I’m riding through the night so as not to make a liar out of the King.’ He took another sip of ale. ‘And it’s why I want you to attend the lecture tonight. It’s in a house down near the eastern edge of the town. You won’t be able to miss it; it’ll be the one with all the Royal Guardsmen standing in front of it.’ He stood up, and James did as well, Owyn and Gorath a moment after. ‘Lyam asked me to do this while I was making arrangements along the frontier with the Western Realm, and as a favour to the Ishapian Temple. I, loyal duke that I am, could hardly say no to my king. You, loyal squire that you are, cannot say no to me. You will attend the lecture this evening as my claque, seigneur. Now, I’m going to see to my men, and then I plan on getting some sleep.’

      The Duke departed, heading upstairs to the rooms set aside for him. Gorath turned to James and said, ‘What is a claque?’

      James laughed. ‘Theatre owners hire them to cheer loudly at performances, to gull the uninformed into thinking the play was brilliant. It gets quite funny sometimes. Five or six people will be cheering wildly, while the rest of the audience is booing and throwing rotten vegetables at the actors.’

      Gorath finished his ale and shook his head in dismay. ‘Humans.’

      The innkeeper came over and said, ‘Anything else, gentlemen?’

      He studied James’s face for a long moment, then said, ‘Sorry. Thought you were someone else.’ Clearing his throat, he repeated, ‘Anything else?’

      ‘If I don’t get food on top of that ale, I’ll be asleep in an hour,’ said Owyn. ‘I’ve never drunk so early in the day.’

      Gorath let out a disapproving grunt, but said nothing.

      James said, ‘Whatever food you’re serving, ah …?’

      ‘Ivan’s the name, sir,’ he said, bowing as he turned to leave.

      The door to the tavern opened and three men entered. James, Gorath and Owyn all looked, their mission making them wary. The three men were locals, and one was carrying a chess set. They set it up on a table and two began to play while the third watched.

      Ivan returned and served the food: cold meats, cheese, spiced greens and sweetened apples. He put the platter on the table and said, ‘More ale?’

      James nodded. Another pair of men came to set up another game of chess and James said, ‘This goes on here a lot?’

      Ivan nodded. ‘The Queen’s Row, sir? The chess piece on the sign means something. Old man Bargist, who opened this inn some thirty years ago, was a fair player, and since then, well, travellers and locals alike know that this is where you come to play a match if you want to test your mettle. You play, sir?’

      ‘Not well,’ said James. ‘My … employer plays very well, and has taught me the basics.’

      ‘You can always find someone here willing to play,’ he said as he departed to see what the soldiers were ordering.

      The door opened and a ragged old woman slipped through, closing it behind her. She came across the room and stood next to James. ‘I thought you gone up to Lyton, Lysle. And where did you get those clothes?’ She felt the fabric of his tunic at the shoulder. ‘Must have snitched them off a baron, from the feel of them.’ She squinted at James as if she had trouble seeing him.

      ‘I think you have mistaken me for someone else. My name is James –’

      ‘James, is it?’ she interrupted ‘Well, then, if it’s James, then it’s James.’ She nudged him with her elbow and winked. ‘Like the time you chewed soap and walked around foaming at the mouth, eh, dearie? Taking alms from the gullible? If you say so. Be a love and buy old Petrumh some food, will you?’ She then noticed Gorath and said, ‘What are you doing with an elf, boy? Don’t you know they’re bad luck? They’re the ones killed my old man Jack, and they’re causing all that trouble up at Sethanon. What are you thinking?’

      James asked, ‘What trouble in Sethanon?’

      She leaned down, and blinked, studying James’s face. ‘You’re not Lysle!’ she said. Slapping him weakly on the shoulder she said, ‘What are you doing with his face?’ Her hands came up to her mouth and she stepped back. ‘Ow!’ she cried. ‘You’re an evil fairy, that’s it! You’ve taken Lysle’s form to trick me!’

      James put up his hands. ‘Madam! We are not evil fairies.’

      ‘And I am not an elf!’ grumbled Gorath under his breath.

      The old woman leaned forward again. ‘Well, you don’t look evil, that’s a fact. But you could be Lysle’s twin, and that’s also a fact.’

      James waved Ivan over and gave him a coin. ‘See the woman gets some food,’ he instructed. To Petrumh, he said, ‘You say this Lysle has gone to Lyton?’

      ‘Left a few days ago, he did,’ she agreed. ‘Said СКАЧАТЬ