The Demon Cycle Series Books 1 and 2: The Painted Man, The Desert Spear. Peter V. Brett

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ The boy cried out

       ‘I can’t; I fell!’

       His call echoed in the black

       Catching his shout

       I sought to help

       But the Messenger held me back

       ‘What good to die?’

       He asked me, grim

       ‘For death is all you’ll find

       ‘No help you’ll provide

       ’Gainst coreling claws

       Just more meat to grind’

       I struck him hard

       And grabbed his spear

       Leaping across the wards

       A frantic charge

       Strength born of fear

       Before the boy be cored

       ‘Stay brave!’ I cried

       Running hard his way

       ‘Keep your heart strong and true!’

       ‘If you can’t stride

       To where it’s safe

       I’ll bring the wards to you!’

       I reached him quick

       But not enough

       Corelings gathered round

       The demons thick

       My work was rough

       Scratching wards into the ground

       A thunderous roar

       Boomed in the night

       A demon twenty feet tall

       It towered fore

       And ’gainst such might

       My spear seemed puny and small

       Horns like hard spears!

       Claws like my arm!

       A carapace hard and black!

       An avalanche

       Promising harm

       The beast moved to the attack!

       The boy screamed scared

       And clutched my leg

       Clawed as I drew the last ward!

       The magic flared

       Creator’s gift

       The one force demons abhor!

       Some will tell you

       Only the sun

       Can bring a rock demon harm

       That night I learned

       It could be done

       As did the demon One Arm!

      He ended with a flourish, and Arlen sat shocked as the audience burst into applause. Keerin took his bows, and the apprentices took in a flood of coin.

      ‘Wasn’t that great?’ Jaik asked.

      ‘That’s not how it happened!’ Arlen exclaimed.

      ‘My da says the guards told him a one-armed rock demon attacks the wards every night,’ Jaik said. ‘It’s looking for Keerin.’

      ‘Keerin wasn’t even there!’ Arlen cried. ‘I cut that demon’s arm off!’

      Jaik snorted. ‘Night, Arlen! You can’t really expect anyone to believe that.’

      Arlen scowled, standing up and calling, ‘Liar! Fraud!’ Everyone turned to see the speaker, as Arlen leapt off his stone and strode towards Keerin. The Jongleur looked up, and his eyes widened in recognition. ‘Arlen?’ he asked, his face suddenly pale.

      Jaik, who’d been running after Arlen, pulled up short. ‘You do know him,’ he whispered.

      Keerin glanced at the crowd nervously. ‘Arlen, my boy,’ he said, opening his arms, ‘come, let’s discuss this in private.’

      Arlen ignored him. ‘You didn’t cut that demon’s arm off!’ he screamed for all to hear. ‘You weren’t even there when it happened!’

      There was an angry murmur from the crowd. Keerin looked around in fear until someone called, ‘Get that boy out of the square!’ and others cheered.

      Keerin broke into a wide smile. ‘No one is going to believe you over me,’ he sneered.

      ‘I was there!’ Arlen cried. ‘I’ve got the scars to prove it!’ He reached to pull up his shirt, but Keerin snapped his fingers, and suddenly, Arlen and Jaik were surrounded by apprentices.

      Trapped, they could do nothing as Keerin walked away, taking the crowd’s attention with him as he snatched his lute and quickly launched into another song.

      ‘Why don’t you shut it, hey?’ a burly apprentice growled. The boy was half again Arlen’s size, and all were older than he and Jaik.

      ‘Keerin’s a liar,’ Arlen said.

      ‘A demon’s ass, too,’ the apprentice agreed, holding up the hat of coins. ‘Think I care?’

      Jaik interposed himself. ‘No need to get angry,’ he СКАЧАТЬ