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

steps up to the main floor of the building, opening into a pantry,
behind the kitchen. He opened the door.

A young woman s scream split the air and a moment later a crossbow bolt
flew through the space James had occupied the instant before. The young
man rolled on the floor as the bolt splintered the wooden door and James
came to his feet with his hands held palm out as he said, "Easy, Lucas!
It s me!" The innkeeper, a former soldier in his youth, was halfway
around the kitchen, the crossbow set aside as he was drawing his sword.
He had grabbed the crossbow and fired through the door, across the
kitchen, upon hearing the scream. He hesitated a moment, then returned
his sword to its scabbard as he continued moving toward James.

He circled around a butcher s block. "You idiot!" he hissed, as if
afraid to raise his voice. "You trying to get yourself killed? "

"Honestly, no, " said James as he stood up.

"Dressed like that, sneaking at my cellar door, how d I know it was you?
You should have sent word you were coming that way, or waited an hour
and come in the front door like an honest man.

"Well, I am an honest man, " said James, moving from the kitchen, past
the bar and into the empty common room. He glanced around, then sat down
in a chair. "More or less. " Lucas gave him a half-smile. "More than
some. What brings you crawling around like a cat in the gutter? " James
glanced over at the young girl who had followed him

50 and Lucas into the commons. She had regained her composure as the
intruder was revealed to be a friend of the innkeeper. "Sorry to startle
you. " She took a breath and said, "Well, you did a good job of it. "
She stood upright, and her high color from the fright put her fair
complexion in contrast to her dark hair. She appeared to be in her late
teens or early twenties.

James asked, "The new barmaid? "

"My daughter, Talia. " James sat back. "Lucas, you don t have a
daughter. " The proprietor of The Rainbow Parrot sat down opposite James
and said, "Run to the kitchen and see nothing s burning, Talia. " 'Yes,
father, " she said, leaving.

"I have a daughter, " Lucas said to James. "When her mother died I sent
her to live with my brother on his farm near Tannerbrook. " James
smiled. "Didn t want her to grow up in this place? " Lucas sighed. "No.
It gets rough in here. " Feigning innocence, James said, "Why, Lucas. I
never noticed. " Pointing an accusatory finger in his direction, Lucas
said, "Far less savory characters than you have graced that chair, Jimmy
the Hand. " James held up his hands as if surrendering. "I ll concede as
much. " He glanced toward the kitchen door as if somehow seeing through