"Feist, Raymond E - The Riftwar Legacy 02 - Krondor- The Assassins" - читать интересную книгу автора (Feist Raymond E)

father, with dark brown hair and eyes. The boyish cast to his features
had faded in the months since he had come to serve in the Prince s army
and his shoulders had broadened. He was lethally effective with the
two-handed sword, a difficult weapon for most soldiers to master, and
his horsemanship was considered exceptional. "I m to be commissioned
next week!"

"Congratulations, " said Locklear. "I m to be exiled. " William s eyes
narrowed. "Again? " James laughed. "Still. Arutha appreciated his
reasons for

37 returning without leave, but decided it didn t warrant an early
reprieve from the icy north. " Frowning, Locklear said, "I depart for
Tyr-Sog again, tomorrow.

James said, "Something s funny in the city. What do you hear, Willie? "
Only Arutha s family, James, and Locklear called William by that
nickname, a familiarity he allowed no one else. William said, "Odd
things. They keep us cadets busy and we don t get to mix much with the
others in the garrison when we re not training, but you do hear this and
that. Seems like an unusually high number of people in the city have
been turning up dead this last week. " James nodded. "That would explain
the sheriff waiting for the Prince. " Locklear said, "He doesn t usually
do that sort of thing, now that you mention it. " James was lost in
thought a moment. He had crossed paths with Sheriff Wilfred Means on
more than one occasion when James had plied his trade as a thief. A few
times he had come close to being the sheriffs guest in the Old Town
Jail. The sheriff acknowledged James as the Prince s squire and treated
him with the respect due his office; their relationship was a cold one
at best. James suddenly was visited with the image of a younger Wilfred
Means glaring up at James as he bolted over the rooftops of the city,
the then constable s ginger-colored mustache almost quivering with rage
at the boy s escape.

But the sheriff was stalwart in his duty, and tried to keep crime in
Krondor as much under control as possible. The city was an orderly one
by most any measure James could imagine, and unlike others who held the
office before him,

38 Wilfred Means was not a man to take a bribe or barter a favor.

For him to be waiting in person to speak to Arutha as soon as he
returned meant something grave had occurred, something the sheriff
judged required the Prince s immediate attention.

"You get back to your duties, " said James absently to William. "Locky
and I had better catch up with Arutha. " William said, "Well, Locky, I
will bid you farewell, again, if you re off for the north in the
morning. " Locklear rolled his eyes theatrically, but took the proffered
hand and shook it. "Take care of this rascal, William. I would hate to