The Complete Conclave of Shadows Trilogy: Talon of the Silver Hawk, King of Foxes, Exile’s Return. Raymond E. Feist
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Название: The Complete Conclave of Shadows Trilogy: Talon of the Silver Hawk, King of Foxes, Exile’s Return
Автор: Raymond E. Feist
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Героическая фантастика
isbn: 9780007532100
isbn:
The next day the rain came. They awoke to the sound of it tattooing the roof of the cottage, and Talon soon found there were half a dozen leaks to plug. He made do with wadding cloth; the roof was daubed thatch, and he would have to wait until it dried before he could patch it properly.
After eating, Alysandra rose and began to dress. He said, ‘Going somewhere?’
‘Back to the estate,’ she said in flat tones.
‘Why?’ he asked. ‘Is something wrong?’
‘No, I’m just doing as I was told.’
‘By whom?’
‘Master Maceus. He said I would stay through the summer until you finished a dozen different portraits of me, then I was to return to the estate for other duties.’
‘What about me?’ Talon asked.
‘He said nothing about what you would do after I leave. I’ll tell him you’ve finished the paintings and I’m certain he’ll come and view the last two, then tell you what is next.’
Talon positioned himself by the door. ‘Wait until the rain is over.’
‘I can’t,’ she said, starting to move by him.
‘Wait!’ He seized her upper arm. ‘A moment.’
She looked up at him with eyes devoid of any warmth. ‘What?’
‘What about us?’
‘What about us?’ she repeated.
‘I mean, I love you.’
With a tone that could only be called impatient, Alysandra replied, ‘Talon, you’re a sweet boy and I had fun this summer, but love had nothing to do with what passed between us. I like men and enjoy the games of men and women. I think I’ve improved your education in that area quite a bit, but if you think it’s because I love you, you’re mistaken. Sadly mistaken.’
A tingling flush rose in Talon’s cheeks and his eyes felt as if they were filling with tears, but no moisture gathered. It was as if someone had struck him a blow to his belly with a mace. He felt short of breath. His mind raced, and he fought to make sense of what he had just been told, but he could not find the words. ‘Wait,’ he repeated softly.
‘For what?’ she asked, opening the door and stepping into the rain. ‘For you to grow up? I hardly think so, boy. You’ve a stallion’s constitution, and you’ve learned to pleasure me, but when I wed it will be with someone of importance, a powerful man who will shower me with riches and protect me and my children.
‘And love will never be even a remote consideration.’
With that she turned and disappeared down the path past the lake, while Talon stood gripping the door jamb so hard that finally he heard a crack of wood. He stared down at his palm and saw that there were splinters embedded in it, and then he gazed out into the deepening storm.
Not since awakening in Robert’s wagon had he felt so bereft of anything joyful. For the second time in his life he felt as if every good thing he had cherished had been taken from him.
TALON GROANED.
He had lain on his bed for two days, getting up only to relieve himself and drink water. He felt weak and unfocused, as if suffering a fever. His thoughts wandered and he relived Alysandra’s last words to him over and over in his mind.
A hand shook him again.
‘What?’ he said, forcing himself out of his numb doze, to find Magnus standing above him.
‘It’s time for you to stop feeling sorry for yourself.’
Talon sat up and his head swam. He tried to focus his eyes.
‘When did you last eat?’ Magnus asked.
‘Yesterday, I think.’
‘More like three days ago,’ said the magician. He rummaged around near the hearth and returned with an apple. ‘Here, eat this.’
Talon took a bite and felt the juices run down his chin. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he swallowed. His stomach seemed to flip at the introduction of food after his short fast.
Magnus sat down on the bed next to him. ‘You feel bad?’
Talon nodded, unable to find words.
‘She broke your heart?’
Talon said nothing but tears gathered in his eyes. He nodded again.
‘Good,’ said Magnus, striking him on the knee with his staff.
‘Ow!’ Talon exclaimed, rubbing at the knee.
Magnus stood up and rapped the boy lightly on the side of the head, hard enough to make Talon’s ears ring and his eyes water even more. Stepping away, Magnus shouted, ‘Defend yourself!’
This time he unleashed a vicious swipe at the other side of Talon’s head, and the young man barely avoided being brained. He fell to his knees and rolled away, gaining a moment as Magnus had to come around the foot of the bed to reach him. When he did, he found Talon standing beside the table, his sword drawn and ready. ‘Master Magnus!’ he shouted. ‘What is this?’
Magnus didn’t answer, but instead feigned a jab with the foot of the staff towards Talon’s head, then swept the rod around in an overhead arc. Talon caught the staff on the forte of his blade with just enough angle to force it past his shoulders, but not enough force to break the sword. Then he stepped inside and grabbed his teacher by the front of his robe, yanking him off-balance. Placing his sword at Magnus’s throat, he said, ‘Am I supposed to kill you now?’
‘No,’ said Magnus with a grin. He gripped Talon’s sword hand and Talon felt his fingers go numb. As the sword fell from his unresponsive grasp, Talon heard Magnus say, ‘That was very good.’
Talon stepped back, rubbing his hand. ‘What is all this?’
‘If your enemy comes upon you unexpectedly, do you think he’s going to stop and say, “Oh, poor Talon. He’s upset over his lost love. I think I will wait for another day to kill him”?’
Talon kept rubbing his sore fingers. ‘No.’
‘Precisely.’ He motioned for Talon to sit on the bed once more. ‘Our enemies will attack you in ways you have not even imagined, Talon. Caleb and others can СКАЧАТЬ