The Serpentwar Saga. Raymond E. Feist

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       • Chapter Twenty-Two • Infiltration

      Calis whispered.

      Erik couldn’t hear the Captain’s conversation, but he saw Praji and Greylock nodding agreement.

      The prisoners had been moved to a small wash, where a handful of men could easily guard them. De Loungville was interviewing them, against what plan of the Captain’s Erik had no idea.

      The traditional head start for the losers who surrendered was a day before any hostilities would be resumed. Usually, according to Praji, those who cleared out were left alone, if they kept moving. Erik was lost in thought when Roo approached.

      ‘How are the horses?’ asked Roo.

      ‘They’re a little scrawny; the grass is poor this time of year and they’ve been kept too long in the same place. But otherwise they’re fine. If we move them a couple of times over the next week, they should put some weight on, especially if I can find a place to shelter them at night from the wind. It’s the cold takes weight off them as much as anything else. Their heavy coats are starting to come in, so they’ll be all right.’

      Roo said, ‘What do you think the Captain has in mind?’

      Erik said, ‘I don’t really know. I find it strange he’s talking about heading down for Port Grief loud enough so those prisoners can hear.’

      Roo grinned. ‘Not if that’s where we want the Queen’s army to look for us. What next?’

      ‘We’ve got plenty to do,’ said Erik. ‘And we’d better get on it before de Loungville comes back. He finds us loafing around and there’ll be hell to pay.’

      Roo groaned. ‘I’m dying of hunger.’

      Suddenly Erik realized he hadn’t eaten except for a quick mouthful the night before. ‘Let’s grab something,’ he said, and Roo’s expression brightened. ‘Then we’ll get back to work.’ Roo’s expression turned dark again, but he followed his friend.

      They had done a complete inventory the night before and found that while Nahoot’s men hadn’t been paid in a while, they certainly were well provisioned. Erik and Roo made their way to the tent they shared with Luis and Biggo – Sho Pi and Natombi had moved in with Nakor and Jadow in another four-man tent – and found the other two sleeping inside. Half a loaf of trail bread, baked only a couple of days before, and a bowl of grain and nuts were sitting by the entrance, so Erik sat, let out a sigh, and picked up the bread. He tore it in half and gave a hunk to Roo, and then scooped up a handful of grain and nuts and started to eat.

      The air was chilly, but the sun warm, and after eating, Erik felt drowsy. Looking at Luis and Biggo, he felt the urge to follow their example, but fought it off. There was still work to be done and he knew de Loungville would make it harder on them if he had to tell them.

      Erik got up and woke Luis and Biggo. They saw Roo and Erik, and Biggo said, ‘It had better be good.’

      ‘It is,’ whispered Erik. ‘Come with me.’

      Luis looked at Erik with eyes made even more dangerous-looking by the dark circles underneath. As he rose, Erik asked softly, ‘Got your knives?’

      Luis whispered, ‘Always,’ and whipped his dagger from his belt in a motion so swift it was almost unseen. ‘Are there some throats in need of cutting?’

      Erik said, ‘Follow me.’

      He led them through the tents, moving quickly and pausing often to look around, as if to see if they were being observed. Erik moved to where the digging continued, as men made the quickly dug trench of the night before a deeper, wider barrier.

      Reaching the work, he pointed to a stack of freshly cut dowels laying in a bundle and said, ‘Quickly, before they get loose! Those need to be sharpened and placed around the perimeter.’

      Roo and Biggo smiled and picked up a piece each as they pulled their belt knives, but Luis glowered. ‘You woke me for this?’

      ‘Better СКАЧАТЬ