"05.The King's Buccaneer" - читать интересную книгу автора (Feist Raymond E)

Ghuda's eyes narrowed and he said, "Forgive me, sir, but I think I know you."

Amos rubbed his chin. "I've been to Kesh a rime or two."

Ghuda smiled an ironic smile. "I was a caravan guard, mostly; there's little of Kesh I haven't seen."

Amos said, "Well, it would have been a port, for I've never been farther inland in Kesh than I needed to be. Perhaps in Durbin."

Ghuda shrugged. "Perhaps." He glanced around. "My companion has vanished, as he does from time to time, so I thought I'd gawk a bit." He shook his head. "I was in the Empress's paiace in the City of Kesh some years ago, when I traveled with your Prince's son." He glanced at the high vaulted windows that looked out over the landward side of the city. "Very different here, yet worth a look."

Amos grinned. "Well, get your fill of gawking, then. We leave at first light to catch the tide."

Ghuda's eyes narrowed. "We leave?"

Amos's grin widened. "I'm Admiral Trask. Arutha told me you two would be traveling with us."

"Where are we going?" asked Ghuda.

"Ha!" barked Amos. "Obviously that strange friend of

$2 Raymond E. Feist

yours hasn't told you. You and he are coming with us, to

Crydee." „ .- ,

Ghuda turned about slowly, talking to himself as much to Amos. "Of course he didn't tell me. He never tells me any-

thing." .

Amos clapped him on the back in a friendly mannet. "Well, I'm not sure why, but you're welcome. You'll have to •share a cabin with the little man, but you seem used to his company. I'll see you in the courtyard before dawn tomorrow."

"Of course we'll be there." After Amos left, Ghuda shook his head. In a sour tone he muttered, "Why are we going to Crydee, Ghuda? I haven't the vaguest idea, Ghuda. Shall we go find Nakor, Ghuda? Certainly, Ghuda. Then shall we strangle him, Ghuda?" With a single nod of his head, he answered himself, "With great delight, Ghuda."

HURRIED ALONG the soldiers' marshaling yard, where an afternoon drill was under way. He was looking for Harry.

The young Squire was where Nicholas expected to find him, watching die team from Krondor getting ready for a football match with the visiting team from Ylith. The sport, played by Prince of Krondor rules — codified some twenty years earlier by Arutha — had become the national sport in the Western Realm, and now city champions challenged one another regularly. Years before, an enterprising merchant had erected a field and stands near the palace. Over the years he had improved it and expanded it, until it was now a stadium diat could easily accommodate forty thousand spectators. It was expected to be full next Sixthday when the match was played. The visiting Ylithmen, die North Precinct Golds, were playing Krondor's champions, the Millers and Bakers Association Stonemen.

Nicholas arrived to see an attack drill, in which five Stonemen descended upon the goalkeeper and three defenders and, with three deft passes, scored a goal. Harry turned and said, "I hate to miss the match."

Nicholas said, "Me too, but diink of it: a sea voyage!"

Harry regarded his friend and saw an excitement in Nicholas he had never seen before. "You really want to go, don't

your

"Don't you?"

TffE KfNG 'S BUCCANЈЈK