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

robe worked with elaborate gold embroidery; no other ornamentation, no jewelry
was to be seen. His face was innocent of any beard, and his hair; as black as
the overman's own dead-straight shoulderlength mane, was clipped close to his
skull. Garth could see no sword or other weapon in evidence; since no
guardsman would be unarmed, this strange man was clearly no ordinary
gatekeeper.
The apparition atop the wall was the first to speak.
"Greetings, overman." The voice was deep and resonant, tinged with
amusement.
"Greetings, man. I have come in peace. May I enter the city as a
friend?"
"So you come in peace? Is it peaceful to bury your weapon in my front
door, to hack at my city's defenses?"
"Your pardon, man, but I received no answer to my hail."
"Could you not then accept it that you were not welcome, and go your
way?"
"I have business in Mormoreth."
"You have no business in Mormoreth, nor does anyone save myself."
"I regret contradicting you, but I do have business within, the
performance of a task set me."
"Ah, a quest! For what?" The voice was plainly mocking now.
"I seek to capture the first living thing I meet in the catacomb beneath
the city."
Further laughter greeted this explanation. "Pray, who set you this
impossible task, and for what? Do you seek the hand of some princess? But no,
that would not be in keeping with an overman's nature. Wealth, then? Is it for
gold you perform this errand?"
"My reasons are my own."
"Oh, come! Who sent you here?"
"I serve one called the Forgotten King, who dwells in Skelleth."
There was absolute silence for a long moment; then, slowly, the man
asked, with every trace of humor gone from his voice, "You serve the Forgotten
King?"
"So he calls himself."
"Describe him."
Although he wondered why this man, who was apparently Shang himself from
his references to "my city," would ask such a thing, Garth responded as best
he could. "He is an old man who wears yellow rags. I could not see his hair or
eyes when I spoke to him, so I do not know their colors, but he has a long
white beard. He is tall and thin, for a human, with-"
"Enough!" The interruption was harsh, as if the speaker were suppressing
anger. "Overman, you are unwise. Abandon this quest and have nothing more to
do with this...this so-called king."
"I have made a bargain."
"Listen, overman, you do not know what you do. Although I have no love
for you or your kind, I warn you, I give you my word, that only destruction
can come of serving this man."
"I gave my word that I would serve him." Although Garth's voice betrayed
no emotion, Shang's words worried him; he wondered just what goals the
Forgotten King was pursuing.