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

They paced the horses slowly ahead, and both watched the thickets and
dense shrubbery which lined the path for any signal that might confirm
Toli’s apprehension.
They saw no one and heard nothing, until just before reaching the
village itself. Quentin stopped his horse and stood in the saddle, looking
around. The muddy track which served as Malmarby’s main street was
vacant. No living thing stirred among the rough wooden houses; the town
lay silent as a tomb.
“There does not appear to be anyone around. I wonder where...”
He had not finished speaking when four men sprang out of the nearest
thicket and grabbed the horses’ bridles. Two of the men were armed with
spears and the others with short swords. All appeared very frightened,
their faces grim with worry and pale from fear.
It was the look upon these sorry faces which made Quentin hold his
hand. “Stay, Toli! We need not fear these men, I think.” Quentin spoke
loudly and calmly so that their would-be attackers would know that they
intended no harm.
There was a rustle in the thicket and another man stepped out, or rather
fell, into the road. Quentin recognized the thin, careworn face of the
village counselor.
“Good morning, Counselor. Is this the way you treat strangers
nowadays? Or perhaps you wished to invite us to breakfast.”
The thin, bald man blinked and rushed forward, squinting at the travelers
with his one good eye.
“Quentin? Step back, men, it is the Prince! Let them go!” Quentin
smiled at the appellation. He was not the Prince, but his legend had so
grown among the simple people of Mensandor that be held that lofty
position in their esteem. So they conferred upon him the highest title they
could presume; to them he was, quite simply, the Prince.
“Yes, it is Quentin. But tell me, Milan, what bodes this reception? And
where are your townspeople? The village looks deserted.”
 “I’m sorry, good Sir. We meant you no harm.” The village chief looked
heartbroken. He wrung his hands over each other as he spoke, as if he
feared some fierce retribution. “It’s just that... well, we cannot be too
careful these days. There have been stories of evil deeds—we thought it
best to post a watch on the road.”
“Robbers?” Quentin asked.
Milan ignored the question and asked one of his own. “You yourself
have seen nothing?”
“No, nothing.”
Quentin shrugged and looked at Toli. Toli studied the faces of the men
before them and remained silent.
“Well, perhaps our fears are unfounded. Will you stay with us?”
“No, not this time. If we may have the use of one of your excellent boats
we will put off directly. We are going to Askelon as quickly as may be.”
The town counselor fixed Quentin with a strange, knowing look and
turned away. “Go on ahead and tell the town. The way is clear, there is
nothing to fear,” he called to one of the men. Then to Quentin he added,
“The boat is yours. You may take mine; it is the largest by far. My son
will go with you.”