"Leo Frankowski - Stargard 2 - High-Tech Knight" - читать интересную книгу автора (Frankowski Leo)

I had no time to give it mercy, for my war-horse was sore pressed. Three gray forms were snapping
around him and he had a fourth in his teeth, shaking it as a small dog will shake a rat. He threw it high
into the air. It came down on the fire, screamed, and lost all of its fighting spirit. It ran away, yelping, its
coat burning merrily.

I waded into the beasts that were harassing my mount and broke two gray necks with as many blows.
The third turned to charge me, but Witchfire dropped both front hooves on its back and it moved no
more.

Suddenly, all was quiet. We'd killed five of the foul creatures, and the one who got away would think
long before it again approached a human fire!

Witchfire seemed unhurt and I was unwounded. I gave each of the dead animals another blow to see to it
that they stayed that way, then laid myself back down to sleep. I didn't bother hobbling my mount. He
wouldn't be wandering far from the fire again this night!

Yes, I was unharmed, but only because I was armed and armored and with a trusty war-horse. One can
well see why the peasants lock their doors at sunset and dare not leave until dawn. Even in daylight,
many are killed when caught alone in the wilds. But what can be done about it?

I left the carcasses to rot on the ground. Wolf skins are worthless, even a peasant can afford better. And
maybe the other wolves would get a meal off of their brothers instead of killing some hapless commoner.

The next morning I gave the coup de grace to the last of my wine, cheese, and bread and found the
village not a quarter mile down the trail. I caught the smith and his family on their way to church.

"But, my dear sir knight! This is Easter morning, the holiest day of the year! Surely you can't expect me
to work on this greatest of feast days!"

"Surely I can! Know that I am sworn to attend our liege lord, Count Lambert himself, on this very day at
Okoitz. I cannot get there without my horse and my horse cannot travel without a shoe. You are the only
blacksmith available and therefore you will do the job. Bid your family to church without you, and come
with me. "

file:///G|/rah/Leo%20Frankowski%20-%20Stargard%202%20-%20High-Tech%20Knight.txt (7 of 191)6/12/2004 1:20:11 AM
 file:///G|/rah/Leo%20Frankowski%20-%20Stargard%202%20-%20High-Tech%20Knight.txt



"But to miss mass on Easter would be a great sin!"

I loosened my sword. "Not nearly so great a sin as committing suicide, which is your alternative."

His wife kissed him worriedly and hustled their children before her toward the church. Thus she made
the decision for him, though I intended the man no harm. He started to call to her, but I took him by the
upper arm and moved him to his shop.

"But I am in my best clothes! I must change."

"Very well. Do it quickly." He went into his house and I followed. It was well built, as peasant huts go,