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

"Not too bad," Theon replied. "He's lost some skin, but nothing that can't grow back." He shook his head. "What happened?"
"I heard something from the other room. I came in to see what he was doing and found him working on the floor boards. He got his arm caught and he fought me as I pulled him away. Then Garv came in and the fight started. I don't know what we're going to do about him."
"Garv? Don't worry. I'll handle him. Just remember, keep your hands off Little Fish. Garv is the most gentle of souls unless angered, and the one thing that can really set him off is someone touching Little Fish."
Theon indicated Bhaldavin. "Stay with him a minute.
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I'm going to need something to cover his arm. How about you? Are you all right?"
Gringers stretched and winced. "Garv nearly cracked my ribs, but I guess I'll live. See to the Ni."
Theon left and returned a few minutes later with a pan of water and a roll of cloth bandage. During the time he was gone, Gringers stood quietly watching Bhaldavin.
Uneasy under Gringers's silent scrutiny, Bhaldavin kept his eyes downcast. As Theon began to work on his arm, he clenched his jaws against the pain and turned from the light.
Theon tried to be gentle, but he could feel the tremors in Bhaldavin's arm as he applied a disinfectant. "Almost over, Little Fish. We'll wrap it up and let nature do the rest. Gringers, there's a flask of wine sitting on the floor behind the front door, and some cups on the shelf over the fireplace."
Theon had finished bandaging Bhaldavin's arm by the time Gringers returned. The two men shared a drink, then Theon refilled his cup and handed it to Bhaldavin.
"Drink, Little Fish. It'll help dull the pain."
Bhaldavin ignored the offering by closing his eyes. He hated Gringers for ruining his escape, and he hated Theon for the kindness and sympathy he was showing. All he wanted was to be left alone.
"Little Fish?" Theon said.
"Never mind," Gringers said. "Don't push him. He's angry right now and sulking. He'll get over it."
"Yes, in time," Theon agreed, "but we don't have a lot of time. We're going to have to move tonight, and the way he's acting now, it means we'll have to secure him if we don't want to lose him."
Gringers glanced at Bhaldavin, then gestured toward the other room where they could talk privately.
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Theon nodded, then pushed Bhaldavin back onto the bed. "Lie down for a little while, Little Fish. Try to get some rest. You're going to need your strength tonight." He stood up and started for the door. "We all are."
Chapter 5
//TF YOU DON'T LEAVE HERE TONIGHT," THEON YELLED,
Igetting up from the table, "Laran is going to walk in here tomorrow and take Little Fish away from you. You have no choice, Garv. You have to come with us."
Garv scowled down at his empty plate. They had just finished eating supper, and Gringers had left to bring his boat to the western edge of Fisherman's Landing, away from prying eyes.
"I want to stay here," Garv said.
"Stay here then," Theon snapped. "But don't look to me for help when Laran confiscates Little Fish, because I'll be gone."
Bhaldavin sat across the table from Garv. He flinched as Theon's hand came to rest on his shoulder.
"And what about Little Fish, Garv? You aren't even thinking of him," Theon said reproachfully. "Laran intends to sell him to the highest bidder and you know that will mean one of the Reach lords. Once they have their hands on him, he'll be lucky to last out the year. He^Jl be
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beaten and starved into submission. Is that what you want for him?"
Garv mumbled something.
"What?"
Garv shook his head. "Little Fish is mine. The Reach lords can't have him."
"And how are you going to stop them? You can't and you know it. The only way you're going to be able to keep Little Fish is to come with us."
Garv raised his head and looked at Theon. "Where?"
"I already told you. The swamps. Gringers has invited us to stay with him on his raft."
"I don't like the swamps. Too many draak there."
'There's nothing to be afraid of, Garv. The rafters know how to handle draak, and they have a few draak singers among them. We'll all be safe there."
Garv glared at Theon. "I'm not afraid!"
"I know you're not, Brother. I didn't say that you were. I only said that if you want to keep Little Fish, you'll have to come with me to Gringers's raft."
Theon came around the end of the table and slapped Garv on the shoulder. "Come. Don't scowl so! We won't have to stay in the swamps forever. If everything works out as I hope, we'll be on our way to a place called Barl-gan by the end of the warm passage."
"Barl-gan?" Garv repeated. "Where is that?"
"I don't know for sure, but Gringers has a mapЧwell, not a map really, but directions. He believes there's great treasure to be found there. It has something to do with the First Men. I don't know much about the old legends, but Gringers has studied them, and he's sure that the treasure to be found in Barl-gan will make us all rich, rich enough to buy and sell any one of the Reach lords!"
Barl-gan translated to Barl's Hold. Bhaldavin searched his memory for a reference, but came up empty. But then, if Barl-gan was part of man's past, there was little reason for him to know anything about it. Though he had lived
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within a day's march of the coastal town of Sadil, Bhal-davin suddenly realized that he was appallingly ignorant of men's social structure, their beliefs, and the inner needs that drove them.
Several times that evening Theon had spoken about a great treasure, his eyes lighting with greed. The concept of being rich, as expressed by the small man, was not within Bhaldavin's grasp. To be rich with health, knowledge, familyЧthat he could understand. But to be rich with things that could only buy another's obedience was alien to all he had ever been taught.