The Sworn Sword — читать онлайн бесплатно полностью

""Right there's the heart, that will do the job as well. Trouble is, the ribs is in the way. The belly's nice and soft. Gutting's slow, but certain. Never knew a man to live when his guts was hanging out. Now if some fool goes and turns his back on you, put your point between his shoulder blades or through his kidney. That's here. They don't live long once you prick 'em in the kidney"".

Having three Wats in the company caused confusion when Bennis was trying to tell them what to do. ""We should give them village names, ser"", Egg suggested, ""like Ser Arlan of Pennytree, your old master"".

That might have worked, only their villages had no names, either. ""Well"", said Egg, ""we could call them for their crops, ser"". One village sat amongst bean fields, one planted mostly barleycorn, and the third cultivated rows of cabbages, carrots, onions, turnips, and melons. No one wanted to be a Cabbage or a Turnip, so the last lot became the Melons. They ended up with four Barleycorns, two Melons, and two Beans. As the brothers Wat were both Barleycorns, some further distinction was required. When the younger brother made mention of once having fallen down the village well, Bennis dubbed him ""Wet Wat"", and that was that. The men were thrilled to have been given ""lord's names"", save for Big Rob, who could not seem to remember whether he was a Bean or a Barleycorn.

Once all of them had names and spears, Ser Eustace emerged from Standfast to address them. The old knight stood outside the tower door, wearing his mail and plate beneath a long woolen surcoat that age had turned more yellow than white.

On front and back it bore the chequy lion, sewn in little squares of green and gold. ""Lads"", he said, ""you all remember Dake. The Red Widow threw him in a sack and drowned him. She took his life, and now she thinks to take our water, too, the Chequy Water that nourishes our crops… but she will not!"" He raised his sword above his head. ""For Osgrey!"" he said ringingly. ""For Standfast!""

""Osgrey!"" Dunk echoed. Egg and the recruits took up the shout. ""Ogsrey! Osgrey! For Standfast!""

Dunk and Bennis drilled the little company amongst the pigs and chickens, while Ser Eustace watched from the balcony above. Sam Stoops had stuffed some old sacks with soiled straw. Those became their foes. The recruits began practicing their spear work as Bennis bellowed at them. ""Stick and twist and rip it free.