"Paul B.Thompson, Tonya R.Carter. Darkness and Light ("DragonLance Preludes I" #1) (angl)" - читать интересную книгу автора

with black clots of blood, soaked into the sand.
The faces of the people of Zaradene were not friendly as
Sturm and Kitiara rode up the single sandy track that was
the main street. Sullen eyes and work-gnarled hands
clenched into fists seemed to be everywhere.
Kitiara reined up and dismounted in front of a sagging
gray tavern that bore the name Three Fishes. Odd white
posts and rafter ends showed between the weatherworn
clapboards. Sturm tied Tallfox to one of the posts. It was
bone, from some enormous, long-dead sea creature.
"What do you suppose it was?" he asked Kit curiously.
Kitiara glanced at the bone and said, "Sea serpent, may-
be. Come. There'll be shipmasters in here."
The Three Fishes tavern was well filled with patrons for
so early an hour. The first master that Kitiara approached
growled "Mercenaries!" and spat at her feet. She almost
drew her blade on him, but Sturm caught her wrist. "Cut
one, and we'll have to fight them all," he muttered. "Be
patient. We must have a boat to cross the straits."
They tried half a dozen sea captains and were rebuffed
each time. Kitiara was fuming. Sturm was puzzled. He'd
voyaged before, and knew that mariners usually liked to
take on a few passengers. They paid better than fishing or
cargo did, took care of themselves, and didn't take up much
deck space. So why are the masters of Zaradene so hostile?
he wondered.
They drifted to the bar. Kitiara called for ale, but all the
barkeep had was black wine of Nostar. After a sip of the bit-
ter vintage, Sturm shoved his cup aside. Better to be thirsty,

he thought.
Kitiara plunked one of her Silvanesti coins on the dirty
bar. Even in the dim tavern, the glow of gold caught the bar-
keep's eye. He came to the end of the bar, where Sturm and
Kitiara leaned.
"You want something?" said the man. A sheen of sweat
coated his shaved head.
"Words," said Kitiara. "Merely a few words."
"For that amount of gold, you can have all the words you
want." The barkeeper tucked his greasy rag under his arm.
Sturm wondered idly which was dirtier, the rag or the bar-
keep's canvas shirt.
"What happened here?" asked Kitiara.
"They don't like mercenaries here. Ten nights ago, horse-
men attacked the village. Carried off everything they could
grab, including some women and children."
"Who were they?" Sturm asked. "Did they wear insig-
nia?"
"Some say they wasn't true men at all," said the bar-
keeper. "Some say they had hard, dark skin and -" He