"Dave Duncan - The Seventh Sword - 2 - The Coming Of Wisdom" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

But the swordsman held tighter, still smirking down at her as he propelled her
toward the jetty. Hie edge of the sun god's disk rose over the wide waters of
the River. "I like you!" he announced. "You're pretty. The Goddess didn't make
much of you, but She did very good work on what there is."
Quili wondered if she could slip out of the cloak and run. But he would run much
faster than she would.
"I was only a Second in the temple guard," Nnanji remarked, "until the Goddess
sent Shonsu. But starting today, I'm a free sword."



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"What do you mean?" She knew quite well what he meant.
"Why do you suppose the Goddess sent you to meet me? See, I've always had to pay
for women until now—except the slave girls in the barracks, of course. I bought
a slave of my own yesterday, but she's no fun. Your Honorable Garathondi will
offer us hospitality for a few days..."
Quili panicked. "Let me go!"
14
THE COMING OF WISDOM
Nnanji released her at once, looking surprised. "What's wrong?"
"How dare you manhandle a priestess that way?" She had shouted, trying to
bolster her courage. Nnanji looked hurt. "I thought you were enjoying it. Why
didn't you ask sooner? Do you mean... well, I'll wait until I've got cleaned up.
I am a mess, aren't I?"
Quilt straightened feathers. "I'll think about it," she said tactfully.
Apparently he had meant no violence. He was like a large puppy, fresh from a
mudhole somewhere, wanting to romp. She had told Nia that it was her duty. That
advice no longer sounded as easy to take as it had been to give, but it would be
her duty, also, if he wanted her. Given time to adjust to the idea...
"I'd better wait until you've had a look at Shonsu," he said sadly. "Women go
glassy when they see him. Well, come on! He's waiting."
What? Did he think she had come down to meet the visitors , just so she could
get first choice of the swordsmen? Arrogance! Unbelievable arrogance!
Speechless, she followed more slowly as Nnanji went striding along the pier. He
whistled a four-note signal, although now the sun was shining through the rain,
and he was quite visible to whoever was in the boat.
She listened for a reply and was astounded to hear a baby crying. Swordsmen
bringing babies?
Nnanji stopped at the end of the jetty, peering down and speaking to whoever was
waiting there, doubtless reporting that there was no danger. Immediate danger
was what he had asked about, so she had not lied. But Quili had not had time to
work out how her ladyship might be reacting to these visitors. Uneasily Quili
now concluded mat Lady Thondi might already be sending word to Ov that swordsmen
had arrived. How long did it take a horse to reach Ov? How long for sorcerers to
ride back? Perhaps the swordsmen would not interpret immediate in quite the same
way she had.
Nnanji reached out his arms and caught a baby, as if plucking it out of the sky.