"Dave Duncan - The Seventh Sword - 3 - The Destiny Of The Swo" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

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This book is
CONTENTS
PROLOGUE: A TRYST HAS BEEN CALLED
BOOK ONE: HOW THE SWORDSMAN WEPT
BOOK TWO: HOW THE SWORDSMAN MET HIS 65 MATCH
BOOK THREE: HOW THE BEST SWORD WON 127
BOOK FOUR: HOW THE SWORDSMAN TOOK 193 COMMAND
BOOK FIVE: HOW THE SWORDSMAN RETURNED THE SWORD
248
EPILOGUE: THE LAST MIRACLE
329
First your brother you must chain. And from another wisdom gain. When the mighty
has been spurned, An army earned, a circle turned, So the lesson may be learned.
Finally return that sword And to its destiny accord.
The riddle of the demigod— his instructions to Lord Shonsu

PROLOGUE:
A TRYST HAS BEEN CALLED
A tryst had been called in Casr and the Goddess had blessed it. Now any boat or
ship that carried a swordsman might find itself arriving at Casr.
The swordsmen would then disembarked and went in search of glory. The vessels
would then be returned by Her Hand to their home waters, where the crews and
passengers spread the word: A tryst had been called.
In the villages, the cities, and the palaces of the World, Her swordsmen heard
the summons. They heard it in the steamy jungles of Aro and on the windy plains
of Grin; among the orchards of Altia and the paddies of Az. They heard it in
sandy Ib Man and under the glacier peaks of Zor.
Garrison swordsmen heard it in corridors or busy streets. Free swords heard it
on hillsides or on shabby village jetties. They sharpened their blades, they
oiled men- boots and harnesses—and they headed down to the River.
Garrisons were hi turmoil as excited juniors sought out their mentors, demanding
to be led to Casr or released from their oaths. The seniors had then to
decide—to stay with their comforts, their sinecures, and their families, or to
heed the ball of honor and the entreaties of their proteges. Some chose honor
and others contempt.
The wandering bands of free swords had no such problem, for they were on Her
service at all times. In many cases they did not
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2 THE DESTINY OF THE SWORD
even discuss the matter—they merely rose to their feet and went.
Yet the Goddess could take but few of Her swordsmen, or She would have left Her
world without law and without order. Many an eager company embarked, and sailed,
and soon found the light changing, the weather altered, the scenery shifted, and
Casr coming up ahead. Others no less eager, and apparently no less worthy,
embarked and sailed and were disappointed—the River did not change for them. No
true swordsman would believe that he was undeserving... There was argument.
Argument led to recrimination, recrimination to quarrel, quarrel to insult,
insult to challenge, and challenge to bloodshed. The wounded went to the