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

seemed to be changing around him by the day.
Dirk now was faced with the realization that life's choices were down to a
precious few. Before the Tsurani's arrival, he had stood a chance of learning
to be a herdsman or farmer, and perhaps meeting a girl and starting a family
on the edge of Lord Paul's estates, having land and a share of the harvest. Or
he might save the tiny sum allotted him over and above his keep and someday
attempt to start a trade of his own; he knew the rudiments of cutting stone
and perhaps might pay a mason to apprentice him.
But now he feared he was doomed to be a servant until death took him. jhere
was no payment of wages above his keep; the Tsurani had taken all of Lord
Paul's wealth - though it was rumoured he had two parts in three safely hidden
from the Tsurani. Even if the rumour was true, he wasn't about to risk hanging
to pay a lowly servant boy his back wages.
And there were no girls his own age on the estates, save Lord Paul's
daughter.
The Midwinter's festival was supposed to be the time to meet the girls from
town or the nearby estates, but the Tsurani had forbidden such travel for the
Midsummer's festival, and Dirk doubted they would change their mind for the
winter festival. Lord Paul's household had celebrated Banapis on Midsummer's
Day by themselves, with little enthusiasm, because of the poor food and drink,
and the isolation.
At least, thought Dirk, Midwinter's Day was likely to be a little livelier,
as there was a good supply of fermenting applejack laid in. Then, remembering
how morose his father could get when drinking, Dirk wondered if that was a
good thing. Hamish had been known to drink himself into a dark and blind rage
in the depths of winter.
Putting aside his own misery, he attacked the tasks the day put before him
and was judged a hardworking if unremarkable boy by those of the household.
The festival was a pale shadow of its former self. Traditionally the towns
turned out, with those living on the neighbouring estates coming in for the
parties. A townsman would be selected to play the part of Old Man Winter, who
would come into town on a sled pulled by wolves - usually a motley collection
of dogs pressed into playing the part, often with comic results. He would pass
out sweets to the children, and the adults would exchange small gifts and
tokens. Then everyone would eat too much food and many would drink too much
wine and ale.
And many young couples would be married.
This year the Tsurani had forbidden travel, and Dirk stood at the edge of a
small crowd in the barnyard watching Mikia and Torren getting married under
the watchful eyes of Lord Paul and his daughter. The Tsurani had let Dirk
travel to the shrine of Dala and return with a priest of that order, so that
the wedding could be conducted.
The couple looked happy despite the frigid surroundings, made slightly more
bearable by the large bonfire Dirk and the others had built earlier in the
day. It roared and warmed whichever side was facing it, but otherwise it was a
cold and bitter day for a wedding, with low grey skies and a constant wind off
the mountains.
The meal was the best that could be managed under the circumstances, and
Dirk had his first encounter with too much to drink, consuming far too much
applejack and discovering that his stomach would inform him of its limits