"Karl Edward Wagner - Cold Light" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wagner Karl Edward)

across to Gavein's table, followed by Alidore who brought along
the bottle. "Mind if I join you?" he asked.
Gavein shrugged. "Suit yourself."
"Have a drink with us?" suggested Alidore, already filling the
mayor's empty mug.
"Thoughtful of you," Gavein observed. "Bunch of well armed
toughs comes stomping into the place when we see maybe a
dozen strangers in a year, and right away they want to share a
bottle with the mayor. Maybe mercenaries are better mannered
now than in the old days, but I doubt it. So thanks for the drink,
and what do you want?"
"My name is Gaethaa," he introduced himself, deciding to
come directly to the point. This gambit fizzled when Gavein made
no show of recognition at the name. But Gaethaa was not a vain
man, and he realized that it was unlikely tales of his exploits had
penetrated empty Demornte.
He shifted to another approach. "I see my name is not known
here in Sebbei—but then there are many names known far wider
than Gaethaa. Take the name Kane for instance—there's a man
whose fame has reached across our world. I seem to have heard
that Kane came through Demornte once—perhaps you've met
him?"
"I know a man of that name," Gavein admitted.
Gaethaa caught Alidore's eyes significantly. "Perhaps this isn't
the same man. The Kane I have in mind is a giant of a
man—stands about six feet and is built like he had the muscles of
three strong men stretched upon a single frame. He has sort of a
coarse face, has red hair and often a short beard. Generally
carries his sword slung across his back in the Carsultyal fashion.
Left-handed—although he's a deadly swordsman with either arm.
His eyes though—people remember his eyes. Has blue eyes with
some sort of insane menace in their gaze..."
"We're talking about the same Kane," Gavein grudgingly
acknowledged. "What about him?"
Gaethaa forced himself to speak noncommittally. "So Kane is
in Sebbei, is he?"
The mayor considered his wine cup. "Yeah, Kane's here in our
city—Thoem knows why he stays. Lives out in the Nandai's old
villa. Keeps to himself—Rehhaile's the only one who sees much
of him. You some friend of his?"
Gaethaa laughed and rose to his feet. His men along the bar
wavered hands near weapon hilts at the movement, but halted
when they saw the eager triumph lighting the Crusader's long
face. "No—Kane is no friend of mine! Far from it!" he intoned
loudly. The townspeople gaped at him in startled amazement.
"In the world outside your ghostland men know me as Gaethaa
the Avenger!" he announced. "I have made it my mission in life
to hunt down and destroy the agents of evil who bring death and
deprivation to the helpless! Too long has evil held sway over our
lives—too long have the creatures of evil run unchecked among