"Dave Duncan - Tales of King's Blades 5 - The Jaguar Knights" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

therefore the King may doubt his loyalty. He may see him as being no more trustworthy than an
inquisitor.”

Fretting at being under Blade authority, no doubt, the kid was try-ing to make Wolf look like a dumb,
pig-sticking swordsman. Doing quite well, too. Obviously he had been better briefed than Wolf had.

“I expect His Majesty wants a second opinion.”

“A trained observer, more likely.”

“No eyes are sharper than Blades’. Can you use that thing?” Blades had only contempt for the sort of
short sword Hogwood was wearing, a gentleman’s weapon.

“Not well by your standards, Sir Wolf, but better than most men. I may fare as well as you do against a
pack of animals.”

The Yeomen at the gatehouse noticed Wolf’s cat’s-eye hilt and saluted them through.TheGreat West
Road was only a faint trail in the snow. Flakes swirled in the air.

“Animals?”

Hogwood quirked very pretty eyebrows.“The intruders used teeth, claws, and clubs. No swords, no
axes.You were not told this?”

Athelgar had been certain the attackers had not been Baels. What sort of injuries had Lynx received?
“Animals do not use clubs.” Wolf

12



THE J A GU AR KNIGHTS

P

pulled his hood forward. “I hope you can keep up, boy. I won’t wait

for you.”

“You won’t have to, Sir Wolf.”

“No?” He kicked in his heels and gave the bay its head.

3

In summer Wolf could ride to Ironhall in a single day, but he knew he would be lucky to do it in less than
two in that snowy winter. OldFlint and Huntley had done very well to do it at all.

Where there was a visible track, it was rarely wide enough for two horses abreast, so he was spared the
need to make conversation. He had time to worry as he rode—worry about Lynx and his injuries, both