"Jeffrey Lord - Blade 18 - Warlords of Gaikon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lord Jeffery)

"So the temple is intact, and blood is unshed?"
Jawai nodded reluctantly. "That is as I was told."
"Then the blasphemy is one that can be compounded with gold, if the priestesses of Kunkoi give their
consent."
"But he is still guilty of falsely wearing the robe of a dabuno," exploded Jawai, clapping his hand to his
sword hilt. "No gold may sweep aside that crime."
"If he has committed it, no," said the young man slowly. He fixed his eyes on Blade. Blade saw in
those eyes an assurance and an authority surprising in a man so young. "I am Yezjaro, instructor to the
Warlord Tsekuin. Tell me in your own words what happened at thetempleofKunkoi ."
Blade ran through the story as quickly as possible, trying to keep an eye on both Jawai and Yezjaro
at the same time as he talked. When he had finished, Yezjaro looked at him closely.
"You entered the temple precincts by accident?"
"Entirely by accident. I thought it was deserted or at least not being used at the time."
"And you neither slew nor maimed any of the temple's people?"
"I did my best not to," said Blade. "If they had stopped to listen to me, I would have told them just
what I've told you and then departed. The priestess fell down some steps and I had to knock the guard
captain down to save my own life. Other than that I don't see how anybody could have been hurt."
"You seem to have skill and self-control, as well as courage," said Yezjaro. Blade thought it
appropriate to bow in response to this praise. Yezjaro smiled. "But what of your wearing the robe of a
dabuno? That is another and graver crime, as Captain Jawai has said."
Blade thought quickly. "I am sorry that it was your robe. But it was a garment appropriate to my rank
in my own land." He ran quickly through a story of his origins, his travels, and his arrival in this land.
"So in a sense I am indeed of the rank of dabuno, traveling as a Lonely Brother, and I have taken the
dem vow. But this is by the laws and customs of my own land. I know yours are different, and I submit
to being judged by them."
There was a long silence. It seemed even longer to Blade. Finally Yezjaro clasped both hands behind
his back and looked down at the floor for a moment. Then he looked at Blade again.
"It is not beyond belief that you are a warrior, considering what you seem to have done. Were you of
thelandofGaikon , I think I would accept your story. I would then pay for having a new robe of dabuno
rank made for you, as mine fits you like a man's sash on an ox!" He laughed briefly at his own joke, then
sobered. "If you lied, you would be discovered sooner or later and punished terribly. If not by men here
in Gaikon, then by the Goddess Kunkoi after your death.
"But you are from a distant land, known only to Kunkoi, with customs and laws of which we know
only what you chose to tell us. Who knows if you fear Kunkoi's judgment? So I cannot accept your
word."
His eyes dropped to the poker and knife Blade was still holding. "Would it be acceptable to you to
fight against Captain Jawai with a weapon of your choice? He is an excellent swordsman, of the fourth
Kim. If you can defeat him or even last more than a few minutes against him, it will satisfy me that you
indeed deserve to be accepted as a dabuno in Gaikon. Then—"
"It won't satisfy me!" snapped Jawai. "What if he asks for some weapon we can't give him? Or fights
with a bow? What if—?"
"I did not finish, Captain," said Yezjaro. His voice would have frozen an entire side of beef in a split
second. "The fight will take place as I say. Unless you wish to try defeating me first?" One long-fingered
hand dropped to the hilt of his own sword.
Jawai gulped, apparently realizing his danger for the first time. "No, Honorable Instructor, I do not
wish to disobey your wishes in this matter." Then rage got the better of his self-control. "But you've
always been after me, one way or another. You're using this—"
Yezjaro sighed. "Captain, I advise you not to open your mouth again except to shout a challenge.
Otherwise I shall have to tell Lord Tsekuin that you dishonor the name of his clan. Then you will pass
from among us without ever having the chance to prove that you speak the truth about this man."