"Stephen Lawhead - Dragon King 02 - The Warlords of Nin" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lawhead Stephen)

“Why would anyone burn a village of peasants in the Suthlands?” Toli
asked. “There is little enough there, and nothing to be gained by such
doings.”
“I cannot guess. There has been nothing like this these past ten years.
The realm is at peace. We must remember to tell the King about what we
have heard.”
Rol proved an able seaman, and the day’s end found them close to their
destination. A faint mist gathered on the water at the shoreline and pushed
out into the inlet. Through the gray mist they saw the dark plane of the
Great Wall jutting out into the deep water as the shadows lengthened upon
the land.
Rol steered the boat around the Wall’s looming edge and made for the
rocky strand. No one spoke as they passed by the imposing shape. The
steady slap and dip of Rol’s long oar was the only sound which broke the
stillness on the water.
Quentin watched the mist curling around the base of the Wall and
thought it made the Wall appear to be floating on a foundation of
billowing clouds while the deepening sky above seemed to grow hard and
solid as stone as it darkened with the twilight. He started when he heard a
hollow knock and felt the slight jolt that told him they had touched shore.
“Will you stay with us tonight, Rol? We will camp a little way along the
trail, up there.” Quentin pointed to a tree-lined rise which bordered the
shore. “Toli will have a fire going in no time, and we will have some hot
food.”
“Thank you, my Lord. I am tired—and hungry, too. I cannot say which I
am the more.”
“Well, you have done us a great service, and it shall be rewarded.
Here”—Quentin reached into the soft leather pouch which hung at his
belt—”a gold ducat for your trouble, and one for your kindness.”
Rol bowed low as he thrust out his callused hand. “Sir, it is too much. I
must not accept so much.” He fingered the gold coins and handed them
back to Quentin.
“No, you have earned them both, and our praise besides. Keep them and
say no more about it. But look! Toli is already making camp. Let us hurry
to join him, or we may be too late for our supper.”
The three reclined around the fire and talked as the stars came out in the
immense black vault of the heavens. Below them on the strand the water
lapped gently against the smooth, round rocks, and above them in the trees
a nightbird called to its mate. Tall pines stood over them, and the air
smelled of fresh wind and balsam.
Quentin drifted easily to sleep, nodding in his place, until he at last bade
his companions good night and rolled himself in his cloak. Toli added
another log to the fire and got up to check the horses before he himself
turned in. Rol already slept soundly, judging from the slow, even rhythm
of his breathing.
Toli stretched and lifted his eyes to the night sky, now sparkling with
tiny lights. As he scanned the heavens his eye caught a curious sight. He
stood for a moment contemplating what he saw, and then turned and crept
softly toward Quentin.
“Kenta...” He nudged his sleeping master gently. “Kenta, I want you to