"Raymond E. Feist - Wood Boy" - читать интересную книгу автора (Feist Raymond E)

the years. That's thirty-five miles from here, and twenty behind enemy lines.'
Pointing to the sled, he asked, 'What is this?'
Weary, the boy said, 'It is my master's treasure. She is his daughter. The
man is a murderer. He was once my friend.'
'You'd better come inside and tetl me your story,' said Borric. He motioned
for two soldiers to take the ropes that the boy used as a harness to pull the
sled out of the way, and indicated that another man should help the exhausted
youth.
The Duke led the boy inside and let him know it was permissible to sit. He
signalled for an orderly to get the boy a cup of hot tea and something to eat,
and as the soldier hurried to obey, Borric said, 'Why don't you start fcpt the
beginning, Dirk?'

Spring brought the Tsurani. They had been reported in the Grey Tower Mountains
the year before, bringing dire warnings of invasion from both the Kingdom
rulers on the other side of the mountains and some of the more important
merchants and nobles in the other Free Cities. But the tales that accompanied
the warning, of fierce warriors appearing out of nowhere by some magic means,
had been met with scepticism and disbelief. And the fighting seemed distant,
up in the mountains between Borric of Crydee's soldiers, the dwarves, and the
invaders.
Until the first warning by the Rangers of Natal - who had quickly ridden on
to warn others - followed a day later by a column of short men in their
brightly-coloured armour who appeared on the road approaching the estate at
White Hill.
Lord Paul had ordered his bodyguards to stand ready, but to offer no
resistance unless provoked. Dirk and the rest of the household stood behind
the Lord of White Hill and his armed guards.
Dirk glanced at his master and saw he stood alone, his daughter still in the
house. Dirk wondered what extra protection the master thought that afforded
his young daughter.
Dirk found the master's pose admirable. The stories of Tsurani fierceness
had trickled down from the early fighting, and the Free Cities would be wholly
dependent upon the Kingdom for defence. Areas like White Hill and the other
estates around Walinor were simply on their own. Yet despite no hope of
successful resistance, Lord Paul stood motionless, without any sign of fear,
in his formal robe, the scarlet one with the ermine collar. No hereditary
title had been conferred on any citizen since the Empire of Great Kesh had
abandoned its northern colonies a century before, yet those families with
ancient titles used them with pride. Like other nobles in the Free Cities, he
held in disdain other men's claims on title while treasuring his own.
As the invaders calmly marched into view, it was obvious that any resistance
would have been quickly crushed. Paul had a personal bodyguard and a score of
hired mercenaries who acted as wagon guards and protection against roving
bandits. But they were a poor band of hired cut-throats next to the
highly-disciplined command that marched across the estate. The Tsurani wore
bright orange and black armour, looking like lacquered hide or wood, nothing
remotely like the metal armour worn by the officers of the Natal Defence
Force.
Paul repeated the order that no resistance was to be mounted and when the