"Lawrence Watt-Evans - War Surplus 01 - The Cyborg And The Sorcerers" - читать интересную книгу автора (Watt-Evans Lawrence)

society to blend into it without seeing it close up firsthand. Now he had seen Teyzha close up, and hoped
that Awlmei was similar enough for him to get by.
Since the wizards seemed to be an elite group by virtue of their magic, and apparently kept the workings
of that magic a secret from the rest of the populace, he would obviously have to find a wizard. This time,
though, he was not about to put up with any Council audiences; he would get a wizard alone and
interrogate him, trying first bribery and then threats should he prove uncooperative.

He hoped that all the wizards knew the basics of whatever mysterious devices they used, and that there
wasn't an elite within the elite that kept that information secret; such a complication could be very
annoying indeed.

It was still at least half an hour before noon when he reached the city gates. The walls here weren't the
cut stone that Teyzha used, but adobe; still, they stood a good five meters high and looked sturdy and
formidable. Guards could be seen occasionally as they patrolled the ramparts.

There were several gates, but Slant saw no reason to prefer one over another and chose to follow the
road to the nearest. It was a wide pair of heavy wooden doors, guarded by an aging soldier wearing an
outfit of thick leather and leaning lazily against the wan. As Slant walked up, this person stood upright and
put a hand to his sword hilt

"Hello, stranger," the guard said. "What brings you to Awlmei?"

"Personal business." Slant saw no reason to say any more than necessary; he didn't care to draw
attention to his accent, which he was sure remained very alien.

"What sort of business?"

"That's none of your concern."

"I don't recognize you; you're foreign, aren't you?"

Reluctantly, Slant admitted, "Yes."

"Do you have any kin in Awlmei?"

"No."

"What's your name, then, and where are you from?"

"I'm called Slant. I've come from Teyzha."

"I never heard of it"

Slant shrugged.

"Where is it?" The guard did not take the shrug as Slant had hoped he would.

"Far to the east."

"I still never heard of it."