"Bennett, Marcia J - Ni-Lach 03 - Beyond the Draak's Teeth UC" - читать интересную книгу автора (Bennett Marcia J)

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"The draak almost got you this morning. But I found a place for us to hide. You remember that?"
"Yes. I remember."
Glowing with excitement, Garv turned to Theon. "He talks, Theon! He talks!"
"Yes, we know. Now calm down."
Gringers put a hand on Garv's shoulder, pulling him away from the bed. "Why don't you go home now, Garv. We'll take care of Little Fish for you. He'll be safe here in Theon's cabin tonight andЧ"
"No!" Garv knocked Gringers's hand aside. "Little Fish is mine."
The smile had dropped from Garv's face. Jaw out-thrust, he glared at Gringers. "Little Fish goes home with me. Now."
Before anyone could stop him, Garv turned and grabbed Bhaldavin's arm, dragging him out of bed. Bhaldavin cried out as pain lanced through his head.
"Let him go, Garv!" Theon yelled. "You're hurting him. Chagg! Gringers! Help me!"
"No!" Garv roared as the three men broke his hold on Bhaldavin's arm and wrestled him toward the door.
"Garv, listen!" Theon cried. "Listen to me! No one is taking Little Fish. He still belongs to you. Damn it! Listen, you big oaf! He's sick. He can't go home right now. I swear, as soon as he's well, you can take him home."
Bhaldavin lay crumpled on the floor, pinwheeis of light flickering before his eyes. He was aware of the men's voices raised in angry shouts, but they were drowned out by the loud ringing in his ears.
A door slammed and the angry voices faded. Naked feet approached and gentle hands picked him up and put him back in bed. Moments later something was placed at his mouth and he was raised carefully so he could drink if he wanted to.
The door opened and closed again. "Gringers, how is he?"
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BEYOND THE DRAAK'S TEETH
"I think he'll be all right, Theon, but one of us should stay close by for a while."
"You stay. I'm going to take Garv home."
"Will he stay there?"
"I think so, now that I've reassured him that his Little Fish won't be taken away from him."
Gringers gestured to Theon and stepped away from the bed. He kept his voice low as he spoke. "I think we're going to have to move fast, Theon."
"What do you mean?"
"How long before Chagg tells someone about your little fishl You know as well as I what any of the Reach lords would give right now to have a functioning draak singer in their possession. If not for the dangers found in the swamps, they'd have had every one of our singers years ago!"
"Do you think Chagg could be bribed to keep quiet?"
"It's too late for that. I saw the gleam in his eye as he left. He plans to be well rewarded for the information he carries. Who will he tell first?"
Theon hesitated, thinking. "Probably Laran. He runs the Council."
"How long before Laran will act?"
Theon shook his head. "I don't know. Not tonight. Tomorrow maybe. He's not the kind to let chances slip away, not when money is involved. He'll be here, if only to check things out. We might be able to put him off a day or two if we can get Little Fish to keep his mouth closed."
Theon glanced down at the bed. Bhaldavin's eyes were open and he was listening.
Gringers's glance followed Theon's. "We need him, Theon. When you first told me about him, I wasn't sure it would work out. But seeing him has changed my mind. We'll have to get him out of here as soon as possible. Once we're into the swamps, they'll not try to come лfter
MARCIA J. BENNETT
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him. But we may need some help getting him out of here.
Can we count on your brother?"
Theon nodded. "If I ask him in the right way, yes." "What happens when he finds out he can't have his
little fish back!"
"I'll worry about that when the time comes. Garv isn't
too hard to handle if you do things right."
Chapter 4
BHALDAVIN LOST COUNT OF THE NUMBER OF MEN WHO entered his room the next day. Warned to be silent should anyone ask him questions, he watched the parade of visitors through crystal eyes shaded by dark green eyelashes and wished himself elsewhere.
Several of the men did try to speak to him, but most came only to look. Though he had lived with Garv on the fringe of their town for over fifteen years, he had been no more to them than a stray pet nida with neither song nor wit to stir their interest. Now all that had changed and he had become the center of attention.
One of the most important men to visit him was the man called Laran. "Show him that you can speak or sing," Theon had said, "and by the end of the week you'll find yourself wrapped in chains and sold to the highest bidder."
"Is this Laran an Elder among your people?" Bhal-davin asked.
"If by 'elder' you mean 'leader,' the answer is yes," Theon responded. "We of Fisherman's Landing Tiave
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MARCIA J. BENNETT
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learned that life runs more smoothly if there's someone in charge. For us that someone is a five-man councilЧ officially. All decisions concerning local squabbles, trade, and defense are settled by Council law in what we call hearings. And Laran, who is head of the Council, takes it upon himself to carry out those lawsЧusually in his own way. That means that if any money is to be made, he'll make sure the scales always balance in his favor."
Bhaldavin shook his head. "I don't understand."