Страница 50 из 74
So, he reasoned, any mention of this Sunrise Warrior must be quashed.
He became aware that the man was watching him fearfully. The blood still streamed from his nose and one eye was swelling shut where Te
`My friend, I'm sorry. Forgive me, please. It's just that I become enraged when Alseiass's will is denied. I should never have struck you. Say you forgive me? Please?'
He gripped both the man's hands in his own and looked deep into his eyes. Warily, the former bandit began to relax a little. There was still a shadow of fear behind his eyes but it was receding. Te
`Here, take this as a sign of my repentance. And as thanks for bringing me this news. I know it must have been a difficult choice for you.'
The man's eyes were locked on the chain now. The linked discs turned slowly, rich and gleaming and heavy. It was a fortune to a man like himself. He could live comfortably for years if he were to sell that chain. He seized it, marvelling at the weight of it as Te
`Thank you, your honour. I thought I should..
`You did your duty, friend. Your duty to me and to Alseiass. Now tell me. What is your name?'
`It's Kelly, your honour. Kelly the Squint, they call me.'
Te
`Well, Kelly, I'll rename you Friend of Alseiass. I'll wager you didn't have much to eat on your way here?' `No, your honour. I did not.'
Te
`Why thank you, your honour. I must say, I..
Te
He waved a hand in blessing and dismissal and Kelly the Squinting Friend of Alseiass hurried from the pavilion. When he was gone, Te
`Gerard!'
The curtain parted and the enormous creature entered. He and his twin were from the western isles. Massive brutes, they were. And killers.
`Lord?' he said.
`Find me the leader of the new men. Bring him here.'
Gerard frowned, puzzled. 'New men, my lord?'
Te
`The three new men who joined us two days ago. The Genovesans.'
Gerard's face cleared in understanding. He knuckled his brow in salute and hurried from the tent to look for the leader of the three Genovesans Te
Te
His attention was distracted by the arrival of Gerard with the Genovesan.
`Thank you, Gerard. You may go,' he said. The giant hesitated. Usually he and his brother dogged the leader's footsteps, their presence adding to his aura of authority. But now, as he hesitated, Te
`Go,' he repeated, a little more forcefully. The huge man touched his forehead in obedience and entered the pavilion, leaving Te
He was slim and swarthy, wearing a wide-brimmed hat with a long feather in it. It was the Genovesan national headwear, Te
`Signor?' the Genovesan asked now.
Te
`Luciano, that's your name, isn't it?'
`Si. That is what people call me, signor. Luciano.'
`Let's walk a while then, Luciano." He kept his arm on the smaller man's shoulder and led him away from the tent. Behind him, he was aware of the minstrel finishing a song and the hearty burst of applause from his audience. He scowled momentarily. He would definitely issue that edict tonight at prayers. Then he brought his mind back to the matter at hand and assumed the smile again.
`Well now, my friend, there's something you can do for me.' He paused but the other man said nothing so he continued. 'There's a man called Kelly in my tent right now. An ugly little person with a terrible squint. My servants are feeding him and tending him. He's been a little bruised around the face, poor man.'
`Yes, signor?' Luciano was an experienced mercenary and assassin. He could see through the false concern in Te
`When he leaves my tent, follow him and wait for a moment when there's no one around.'
`And then what should I do, signor?' But Luciano already knew what Te
`Then you should kill him, Luciano. Then you should kill him.'
Luciano's smile broadened, matched by an answering smile on Te
`Oh, one other thing, Luciano,' Te
`You'll find a gold chain on his person. He stole it from me. Bring it back to me when the job's done.'
`It shall be as you say, signor,' Luciano said. And Te
`I know,' he replied.