"Lawrence Watt-Evans - Dus 1 - Lure Of The Basilisk" - читать интересную книгу автора (Watt-Evans Lawrence)

"Yes." The man made a half-hearted attempt to get to his feet and
failed. The overman stooped, and felt the damaged leg.
"It's broken; lie still."
It took the overman some time to locate a usable splint, but eventually
he broke the haft from an axe he found among the scattered debris of the
battle and bound it in place with leather from the reins of the man's mount.
As he checked the bindings, the man said, "I am Elmil of Derbarok."
"I am Garth of Ordunin."
"What are you going to do with me?"
"I have not decided."
"What about"
"Wait." Garth did not want to answer questions; he had not yet finished
his self-imposed task of cleaning up after the battle. Ignoring Elmil
temporarily, he systematically stripped the seven dead warriors, leaving them
lying naked in the icy mud, then sorted through their belongings, and added
those items he thought might prove useful or valuable to his own pack. The
remainder he dumped in a heap beside the unconscious man he had earlier
bandaged. Elmil watched these actions in confused silence, then demanded, "Why
do you leave them naked?"
"As easier prey for carrion-eaters, so that your living companion will
have more time to recover."
Elmil made no answer.
"Are the men of Derbarok honorable?" Garth inquired.
Elmil was astonished. "We are bandits and thieves who use magic
trickery. How can you even ask?"
"It is said there is honor amongst thieves. I want to know whether I may
take your word of honor rather than tying you up while I sleep."
"My word of honor?"
"Your word of honor that you will not escape, nor harm me nor my
warbeast."
"But you have no way of knowing whether my word is good or not, save my
word."
"This is true. But if you break it, you will die. If you escape, I will
hunt you down. If you harm me, my warbeast will hunt you down."
"Then why do you ask?"
"I would have your word so that you will not feel compelled to attempt
escape despite the consequences."
"I don't understand."
"It is not necessary that you understand, merely that you either give
your word of honor that you will neither escape nor attempt to harm me, or
permit me to bind you." The overman's faint tone of annoyance failed to
register with the barbarian, but he had exhausted his objections.
"I could not escape with a broken leg in any case; I will give you my
word."
"Very good. Then we will rest." It was scarcely sunset, but the
overman's loss of blood had tired him. As he was preparing to bed down,
himself on his bedroll and Elmil a few feet away on furs that had once
belonged to his fellow bandits, the warbeast growled hungrily. Garth called to
it, and it began contentedly eating what remained of Elmil's dead mount.
The action reminded Garth of a question. "What do you call those