"Jeffrey Lord - Blade 01 - The Bronze Axe" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lord Jeffery)

Taleen touched Cunobar lightly on his gray head and laughed. "The same old Cunobar, I see. Even
as a child you flattered me and turned my head and quite spoiled me." She pretended to frown. "For
which I had to pay when I returned to my father. But rise now, Cunobar, and tell me what goes on in
Sarum Vil. Why are the warriors gathering?"
The man stood up and sheathed his sword. He did not glance at Blade. His men had retired a little
distance and were chattering among themselves.
"It is Getorix again," Cunobar said. "From over the Narrow Sea. He is raiding. Already half a dozen
villages have been burnt and looted, and the people slain. Last night the beacons spoke that Getorix is
near, and so King Lycanto prepares to go against him. What else? If Getorix is left unhindered he will
blaze a path of murder through half of Alb. So all freemen and warriors have been summoned."
He glanced past Blade, still not seeing him, to the bonfire and confusion in Sarum Vil. "I do not know
the why of your presence here, princess, and I do not ask. I doubt it is a concern of mine. But my men
are hungry, as I am, and if we wish to break our fast we had best hurry. That pack of wolves will pick
the King's larder as bare as bones on a beach."
They both laughed. Taleen said, "You are right. But if I know my cousin he will save something back
for himself. We will make him share it with us, Cunobar."
Only then did Cunobar appear to notice Blade. He said nothing, but he gave Blade a steely look,
then glanced at Taleen and waited. She smiled and made a careless gesture toward Blade.
"It is all right, Cunobar. I vouch for him. He is my man—a freeman and entitled to bear arms, but not
of our station. Of no importance, yet will I have him treated as well as he has served me."
The warrior, now that he had consented to notice Blade at all, was scrutinizing him from head to toe.
"It is said that a favorite trick of Getorix is to send spies ahead. They travel as freemen, or serfs, and even
as warriors. They mingle with the people and find out many things, study all our weaknesses, and report
them back to Getorix."
Cunobar's men stopped chattering. They had heard. They all stared at Blade and one drew his
sword. Another hefted his spear a little higher.
Blade turned his back on the lot of them and began to whistle a contemptuous little tune. Boldness
was his only ploy. He stood no chance against all of them.
Taleen's voice took on an edge. "I have said that I vouch for him, Cunobar. Is that not enough?"
Cunobar's reply was only half apologetic, with an undertone of stubbornness. "More than enough,
princess, in normal times. But you are a maiden, my lady, and cannot know the things a warrior knows.
Getorix's spies are very clever. And if this fellow is a man of arms, as you claim, wherearehis arms? His
helmet, his leathern armor and shield, his spear? He bears nothing but a cutty sword and wears a ragged
pair of breeches that he might have stolen from a scarecrow."
Blade was glad that he was not facing them. He could not restrain his smile, a smile that Cunobar
would have misunderstood.
Taleen appeared to have trouble with her voice, but she did not laugh. In a tone as cold and haughty
as Blade had ever heard she said: "I do not like this, Cunobar. Have done. His name is Blade, he is my
man, and I say once more that I vouch for him. I will not say it again. Now escort us into the town, my
old friend, and do not make me lose my temper. I will explain matters to my cousin, to King Lycanto,
and no other."
Blade turned to see Cunobar bow and stalk away. Over his shoulder he said, "I am sorry, princess.
It is just that all strangers are suspect in Alb—especially now."
Blade and the girl stood aside as the armed men filed past. Cunobar, a bit on his dignity now, ignored
them, but his men gave Blade a thorough scrutiny. The last man, a burly rogue who wore no helmet,
winked at Blade as he passed. Blade winked back, and smiled.
Blade and Taleen fell in behind the warriors as they made their way down the hill toward the gate of
Sarum Vil.
Blade said: "It was nice of you to make me a freeman. Very thoughtful. As long as I am to beyour
man I may as well get all the rank I can."