"Raymond E. Feist - Conclave of Shadows 2 - King of Foxes" - читать интересную книгу автора (Feist Raymond E)

almost no income—and he was vassal to the Baron of Ylith; a former Bannerette
Knight Lieutenant under the command of the Duke of Yabon, Tal Hawkins was a
young man of some rank and little wealth.
For almost two years he had been absent from the scene of his most
significant
public triumph, winning the tournament at the Masters' Court, thus earning
the
title of World's Greatest Swordsman. Cynical despite his youth, he tried to
keep
the illusion of superiority in perspective—he had been the best of the
several
hundred entrants who had come to Roldem for the contest, but that hardly
convinced him he was the best in the world. He had no doubt there was some
soldier on a distant battlement, or mercenary riding guard-duty somewhere who
could cut him up for fish-bait given the chance; but fortunately they hadn't
entered the contest.
For a brief instant, Tal wondered if fate would allow him to return to Roldem
in
three years' time to defend that championship. He was but twenty-three years
of
age, so it would only be circumstance that would prevent him from returning
to
Roldem. Should he do so, he hoped the contest would be less eventful than the
last. Two men had died by his sword during the matches—a very rare and
usually
regrettable outcome. Nevertheless Tal had felt no regret, since one of the
men
had been among those responsible for the destruction of his nation, and the
other had been an assassin sent to kill him. Memories of assassins turned his
mind to the man following him. The other man had also boarded at Salador, yet
had managed to avoid direct contact with him aboard the small ship for the
duration of the voyage, despite their being nearly two weeks at sea.
The bird wheeled overhead, then pulled up, wings flapping as it hovered, legs
extended downward and tail fanned, as if watching prey. With its telltale
cry,
the predator announced its presence.
Hearing the familiar screech, Tal looked up, then hesitated for a moment, for
the bird above the throng was a silver hawk. It was his spirit guide and had
given him his naming vision. For an instant Tal imagined he could see the
creature's eyes and hear a greeting. Then the bird wheeled and flew away.
"Did you see that?" asked a porter nearby. "Never seen a bird do that."
Tal said, "Just a hawk."
"Never seen a hawk that colour, leastways not around here," answered the
porter
who took one look at where the bird had hovered then returned to lugging his
bundle. Tal nodded, then moved back into the throng. The silver hawk was
native
to his homeland far to the north, across the vast Sea of Kingdoms, and as far
as
he knew, none inhabited the island kingdom of Roldem. He felt troubled, and