The Complete Conclave of Shadows Trilogy: Talon of the Silver Hawk, King of Foxes, Exile’s Return. Raymond E. Feist

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СКАЧАТЬ Roldemish gentleman.’ With that, Rondar sat down.

      Demetrius nodded as if understanding.

      ‘What?’ asked Talon, puzzled.

      ‘How many languages do you speak now?’

      ‘Six, including Orosini. I speak fluent Roldemish, King’s Tongue, the Common Tongue, pretty good Keshian; and I’m getting decent with Quegan – which is pretty close to ancient Keshian. Next I’m supposed to learn Yabonese.’

      ‘And you’re the best on the island with a sword.’

      ‘Yes,’ said Talon without modesty.

      ‘Do you play an instrument?’

      ‘A flute. Nakor showed me how to make one.’

      ‘Well?’

      ‘Well enough.’

      ‘You play chess, cards, dice, right?’

      ‘Yes.’

      ‘And you’re good at them, right?’

      ‘Yes,’ Talon repeated.

      Demetrius grinned. ‘Rondar’s right. They’re going to pass you off as a gentleman of Roldem.’

      ‘Cook?’ asked Rondar.

      Talon grinned. ‘Better than Besalamo, if I’m honest.’

      ‘That’s not saying much,’ observed Demetrius. ‘Look, if they start teaching you how to play more instruments and everything you need to know about wine and other such niceties, then Rondar’s right. The masters of this island are transforming you into a gentleman of Roldem.’

      ‘But why?’ asked Talon.

      ‘You’ll know when they tell you,’ Demetrius replied.

      Talon pondered the possibility for a moment, then said, ‘All right. Back to your places. I told Master Maceus I’d have something to show him before supper.’

      The two young men resumed their positions and Talon turned his mind away from the question of what he was being trained to do and back to the task at hand.

      

      Master Maceus considered the portrait. After a while he said, ‘Passable.’

      ‘Thank you,’ Talon replied without much conviction. He was frustrated by the shortcomings he recognized in his work; the figures were stiff, unnatural, and showed little of the nature of his two friends.

      ‘You need work on the structure of the body,’ said his instructor.

      ‘Yes, sir.’

      ‘I think your next study should be a nude.’

      Talon raised an eyebrow. He had grown up in a culture in which the sight of the human body was no cause for notice, yet he had learned since coming away from the mountains of the Orosini that many other people viewed nakedness in a very different fashion. Some students swam nude in the lake, while others avoided those gatherings, preferring to swim and bathe alone, or wearing clothing designed for wear in the water. Others, like Rondar, avoided swimming altogether.

      Talon had even discussed the matter with Nakor, which probably had been a poor choice, since his instructor had left him with more questions than answers. Even so, Talon felt compelled to ask, ‘Master Maceus?’

      ‘Yes?’

      ‘Are such paintings common?’

      ‘Common enough,’ said Maceus, though he added a self-conscious cough and remarked, ‘Though not often for public viewing. Private collections and the like. Still, statuary, that’s another story. Great heroes are often depicted in various stages of undress, their bodies showing magnificent wounds. But I’m not concerned about your ability to create something to titillate a bored noble; nor do I think you have the makings of a sculptor. It’s a matter of seeing below the surface, Talon.’ He pointed to the work on the easel and went on, ‘You’ve captured the surface of the boys, the overall sense of the planes and angles of their faces and clothing, but the muscles underneath, the curves of their shoulders, arms, chest – all that is missing. When you paint a portrait you must think of the body beneath, the spirit within: then you clothe the subject with your brushes and knives. When you look at the naked body, see the bone, sinew and muscle within, and clothe them in skin and hair. You’ll learn to understand this.’ With a rare smile, he added, ‘We may make a painter of you yet.’

      Thinking of trying to persuade Rondar to stand in the room with no clothing, Talon said, ‘Should I seek another subject?’

      ‘Do not concern yourself. I’ll send someone along tomorrow.’

      Talon nodded, thinking about what his instructor had said, and slowly began to clear away his brushes and paints.

      

      Talon hurried from the kitchen. He had been assigned breakfast duty and had been up for two hours before the rest of the community had arisen. He had spent the entire time in the kitchen, until the afternoon crew had come aboard. He was to have returned to his quarters to meet the model for his new painting, but Nakor had found him and sent him off on an errand, telling him he’d meet the model later.

      It had taken almost all of the afternoon for Talon to finish Nakor’s bidding, and now he was ready to return to his quarters to take a quick bath before supper. But when he got there, he found Rondar and Demetrius picking up the wooden chest that held Talon’s belongings. ‘What’s going on?’ Talon asked.

      ‘Moving,’ said Rondar.

      ‘We’re moving?’

      ‘You’re moving,’ said Demetrius. ‘I don’t know why, but we just got orders to take all your things down to that little cottage by the lake. You know the one.’

      Talon grinned. The cottage was often used by students for assignations after hours. Then his grin faded. If he was being assigned that hut as quarters, any number of students would be less than thrilled.

      As if reading his mind, Rondar said, ‘They can use the stable.’

      Demetrius laughed. ‘He’s right. There are plenty of other places to get friendly. I’m partial to the baths after dark, myself. Water’s still very warm, it’s quiet …’ He grunted theatrically as he lifted the trunk, but Talon knew it wasn’t heavy, just big.

      He let them go past him and out through the door, then fell in behind them. ‘My bed?’

      ‘Moved an hour ago,’ said Demetrius. ‘Along with your painting gear. We just couldn’t get this trunk into the wagon with the rest.’

      ‘Why?’ asked Talon. ‘I don’t have much, certainly not enough to fill a wagon.’

      Demetrius again grinned. ‘You’d be surprised.’

      They moved down the hall to where the now-empty wagon waited, and loaded the trunk. In a few minutes they СКАЧАТЬ