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

'But it's not right,' said Dirk, fighting back tears of frustration and
fear.
'Nothing is right these days,' said Hemmy, reaching out to shut the hay
door.
Dirk lay in the loft, huddled against a cold far more bitter than winter's
night.

'Let me help you with that,' said Drogen, as Dirk tried to close the kitchen
door with a kick. The wind outside howled and this had been Dirk's fifth trip
to the woodbox.
Dirk said, 'Shut the door, please.'
The new bodyguard to Lord Paul did as Dirk asked, and Dirk said, 'Thanks.
I've got to get this to the great hall.' He hurried with the heavy bundle of
wood and made his way through the big house. He entered the great hall, where
Lord Paul ate dinner with his daughter Anika.
Dirk was very deliberate in arranging the new firewood, as it gave him a
moment to watch Anika from beside the fireplace. She was a year younger than
Dirk. Fifteen last Midsummer's Day, she was perfection embodied to the young
kitchen boy. She had delicate features, a small bow of a mouth, wide-set blue
eyes, and hair of pale gold. Her skin held a faint touch of the sun in summer
and was flawless pink in winter. Her figure was ripening, yet not voluptuous
like the kitchen women, still possessing a grace when she moved that set
Dirk's heart to beating.
Dirk knew she didn't even know his name, but he dreamed of somehow earning
rank and fame someday, and winning her love. Her image filled his mind every
waking moment of the day.
'Is something wrong. Wood Boy?' asked Lord Paul.
'No, sir!' said the boyf standing up and striking his head on the mantel The
girl covered her mouth as she laughed, and he blushed furiously. '] was just
putting the wood away. I'm done, sir.'
Then get back to the kitchen, lad,’ said the Lord of the house.
Lord Paul was an Elector of the City. Before the Tsurani had come, Lord Paul
had voted on every important matter confronting Walinor and had once been the
delegate from the city to the General Council of Electors for the Free Cities
of Natal. He was by any measure one of the wealthiest men in the city. He had
ships plying the Bitter Sea and farms and holdings throughout the west, as
well as investments in both the Kingdom of the Isles and the Empire of Great
Kesh.
And Dirk was now hopelessly in love with his daughter.
It didn't matter she didn't know his name, or even notice he was there, he
just couldn't stop thinking of her. For the last two weeks, since Hamish's
death, he had found his mind turning constantly to thoughts of Anika. Her
smile, how she moved, the tilt of her chin when she was listening to something
her father was saying.
She wore only the finest clothing and her hair was always put up with combs
of fine bone or shell from the Bitter Sea, or left down with ringlets that
softly framed her face. She was always polite, even to the servants, and had
the sweetest voice Dirk had ever heard.
When he was back in the kitchen, Jenna the old stout cook said, 'Getting a
peek at the girl, were we?'