"Huff, Tanya - Wizard 1 - Child Of The Grove 1.1 Txt" - читать интересную книгу автора (Huff Tanya)

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CHILD OF THE GROVE 25
"Belkar and I have talked it over and it's been decided that you'll command the Elite. "
Rael choked on the bread. The men of the Elite were the best fighters in Ardhan. Every young man who could use a sword dreamed of joining their company. And he was to command them. He suddenly thought of something. "But, sir, the king commands the Elite. "
"The king also makes the rules, and I've changed this one. As prince and heir, you must have a command. I thought of creating a company for you out of the Palace Guard. You've trained with them and most of them know you, but the Elite is already a self-contained unit, used to serving under a royal commander. " Black brows rose. "Or don't you want to command the Elite?"
"Yes, sir!" The Elite, Rael thought. "As prince and heir, " the king continued, a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth, "you'll be obeyed, but I hasten to point out that, training aside, you know little of actual warfare, so defer to the captain. "
"Yes, sir. " Rael had every intention of deferring to the captain. He'd been terrified of the thickset little man for as long as he could remember.
"Before you head down to the barracks, stop off at the armorers and get fitted for a new helmet, breastplate, and greaves. Your sword's fine. " "Yes, sir. " "Well, get going. " "Yes, sir!"
"He'll be in the thick of the fighting with the Elite, " Belkar pointed out as the prince dashed out of the room.
"Aye, " agreed the king grimly. "But they'll have to go through the Elite to get to him. It's the safest place I can think of. "
"You could order him to remain here, " suggested the duke, not at all pleased to have both the king and his only heir in such danger.

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"I could, but I'll be damned if I'll chain my son to the walls. " Raen smiled ruefully. "And that's what I'd have to do to keep him here. "
By the time Rael arrived at the Elite's training yard, the euphoria was beginning to fade. Though the news of his appointment had obviously preceded him, the Elite weren't yet ready to change their allegiance from captain and Icing/commander to captain, king, and prince/commander. Every one of them, soldier and servant, politely ignored him as he made his way to the practice ring.
Doan, the captain, perched on the top rail of the fence surrounding the ring, looking like a well armed gargoyle. He welcomed the prince with a grunt and slapped the rail in invitation, never once taking his eyes off the men training.
Rael climbed up and sat down, a little farther from Doan than was strictly polite. He couldn't help himself; something about the captain put him on edge. It wasn't the man's appearance-although the barrel chest, bandy legs, and habitual scowl made him far from appealing-it was more the feeling of tremendous power just barely under control that he seemed to project. Palace rumor whispered Doan had dwarf blood and Rael believed it. When he looked at the captain through his mother's eyes, he felt the same strong belonging to the land that he felt in the Grove but none of the peace or serenity.
Wood cracked on wood and then wood on bone and then one of the men in the ring was down, blood streaming from a cut on his forehead, his quarterstaff lying useless on the sand beside him.
"Get him out of there, " grunted Doan. He turned to the prince and pointed at his sword with a gnarled finger. "The swordmaster says you know how to use that thing. "
Rael's back stiffened. He'd never trained with the Elite, for theirs was a very close fraternity, but Doan had seen him work with the Palace Guard often enough

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to know he could use his sword. And his strength and speed were common knowledge. "Show me. "
As regally as he was able, Rael shrugged and slid off the fence. He drew his sword and tossed his scabbard to one side.
Suddenly, every Elite not on duty surrounded the ring.
Rael looked around at the grinning faces, swallowed nervously, and met the eyes of the captain. They reflected the early morning light in such a way they appeared to glow deeply red. Rael swallowed again and his chin went up. So the new commander had to prove he was worthy, did he? Well he'd show them. "Who do I fight?"
A slow smile spread over the guard captain's face. "Me, " he said. "Your Highness. " And he dropped into the ring.
Doan's attack came so quickly, the fight almost ended before it truly began. To Rael's astonishment, his strength and speed alone were not enough and he was forced to use every bit of skill the swordmaster had drilled into him over the years. The prince was a slender flame tipped with steel. Doan stood solid, each movement deliberate and so slow next to the Lady's son that it seemed he must be cut to shreds. But Rael could not get past his guard, and when their swords met he had to use all of his unworldly strength to block the blow.
Less than three minutes later it was finished. Doan bent and retrieved Rael's sword. "You'll do, " he said as he handed it over. "Commander. "
A cheer went up from the surrounding Elite and Rael became aware that a great deal of coin was changing hands. Snatches of conversation drifted back from the dispersing men.
"... told you he'd get his own in... " "... expected the captain to beat him to his knees... " "... four coppers, you jackass, but then I've seen him fight before... "

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And echoed from more than one direction: "He'll do. "
"They'd follow the prince because they had to, " Doan grunted as Rael sheathed his sword. "Better you make them want to. "
Rael straightened his shoulders. "And how do I make them want to?"
"You've started already. " Doan hacked and spit in the sand. "You've proven you can fight. "
"But you beat me. "
"I know. I beat them too. But you showed them you could've made the company on your own. "
Rael flushed with pleasure. "I could've?"
"Just said so, didn't I?" Doan hooked his thumbs behind his broad leather belt and headed out of the practice ring. "Now if you'll come with me... " The pause was barely audible. "... Commander, I'll fill you in on your command. "
"... but the strength of the Elite lies in flexibility. We fight on any terrain, on any terms. It all depends on the lay of the land, the enemy, and the Duke of Hale who runs mostly cavalry. We've fought beside his horsemen before though, and it... am I going too fast for you, Commander?"
"Huh?" Rael flushed and dragged himself out of a pleasant daydream where the enemy had been falling back in terrified disorder before his charge. "I'm sorry, captain. I, I didn't hear. "
"Obviously. " Doan smiled, an expression that lessened neither his ugliness nor his ferocity. "Drink your ale. "
The mug was at his lips before Rael realized he'd followed the order without thinking. As it was there, he drank. The chain of command definitely needs work, he thought, putting the empty mug down amid the ruins of lunch. When he looked up, he saw by Doan's expression that the thought had clearly shown on his face. He reddened, then raised his chin and met the

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captain's eyes squarely. To his surprise, Doan merely nodded in what seemed to be satisfaction.
"Excuse me, Captain, Commander. " The Elite First sketched a salute intended to take in both his superior officers. Rael had observed his father with the Elite often enough to realize that the First's apparent disregard for royal rank was, in fact, a form of acceptance and his heart swelled with pride. "The lad's been found. He's waiting in the guardroom. "