"Dave Duncan - A Handful Of Men 3 - The Stricken Field" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

A sudden powerful shriek outside told her that the goblins had started on a fresh victim. She ignored it,
waiting. “Kadie . . . No one’s come to rescue you yet.”

“They will!” She wished she still believed that.

“Kadie . . . If I could help you escape . . . Would you like that, Kadie?”

She began to shake all over. “How?”

“I don’t know!” he said miserably. “I don’t think I can. But I would if I could! If I see a chance . . .”
She couldn’t think of any way he could help her escape, either, but her heart seemed to explode with
excitement. She thought of herself marching up to one of those great houses she had seen, a mansion like
Kinvale, except it wouldn’t be burning and there would still be people living in it, rich people, imps. They
would be clean and well dressed.I am so sorry to drop in unexpectedly like this, but I am Princess
Kadolan of Krasnegar, and I have just escaped from the goblins . . .

“But why?”

He was quiet so long that she thought he was not going to answer at all. Then he said, “Because we’re
all going to die!”

“You’ve beaten the legions before.”

“Only two at a time.” His voice went shrill. “They must be after us by now! We’ve outrun them, that’s
all. But when we turn back, we’ll bang into dozens of legions. Hundreds of legions!”

It must be true, of course. And not a goblin would be allowed to escape. Not one would straggle back
to Pondague across the whole width of the Impire. Especially not the king’s son.

“I expect your father’s thought of this, you know. He must have some sort of plan that he hasn’t told
anyone.”

“I hope so! That’s what everyone’s hoping.”

“But—If I could escape, yes, I’d like that very much, Blood Beak. I’d be very grateful. I’d tell everyone
how you helped me, and ask for you to be pardoned.”

“I don’t want that!” he said angrily. “You think I’m a coward?” His voice rose in outrage. “Youthink I’m
trying to save myself!”

“No, of course not! I know you’re brave. I think it’s wonderful and romantic that you’re offering to help
me.” But she had upset him, had said the wrong thing.

“Just like one of your stories!” His voice wavered. “Trying to make me into an impish prince, aren’t you?
Well, I’m not an impish prince. Maybe I’m clumsy with a knife, but I’m going off to the women now,
and I take a lot of satisfying! No one laughs at me there! So just don’t you forget who I am!” He jumped
up.

“Blood Beak!”