"Briggs, Patricia - Sianim 2 - Steal the Dragon.text" - читать интересную книгу автора (Briggs Patricia)

Ignoring the friendly muzzles that were extended to her over the stall doors, she
found a bench that wasn't too cluttered with bits of mending or grooming tools and
huddled on it, drawing her legs up beside her and leaning wearily against the wall.

The gray stone was cool against her cheek. She closed her eyes and
contemplated what she'd been asked to do. Even the idea of going back to Darran
was enough to raise a cold sweat. Darran had stolen her family, her heritage and a
part of herself. In return she'd been given the scars she carried, inside and out.

Perhaps it would have been different for someone born into a more restrictive
society, where women had little control over their destiny. Rialla had been born to
one of the wandering Trader clans that traveled throughout the South; primarily
through Southwood, Ynstrah and the little principalities that made up the Anthran
Alliance. In the`Trader clans, women were people of power. The women controlled
a clan's finances and determined where the clan would travel the next season.

Rialla had learned how to train horses from her father. The horses he trained
were widely sought after, for he'd had a fine touch with animals. Often he staged
exhibitions in which he would take some vicious beast and turn it into a usable
animal. He brought prestige to their small clan, so that Rialla's clan rarely had to
worry about money, and were free to travel where many other clans were forbidden.

Rialla had been born an empath, able to perceive the feelings and sometimes
thoughts of the people and animals around her. It was a rare talent, but not unheard
of among her people, and it was valued highly by a people who lived on the whims
of others. Almost as soon as her ability was recognized, her father had her working
with the horses, using her empathy to enhance his training and teaching her to
control her gift at the same time.

Because of her value to the Traders, the women's council and her father


contracted an advantageous marriage for her with a wealthier clan. It had been at the
betrothal festival that the outlander had come among them.

There was nothing unusual about his presence because everyone was welcome at
festivals, even nonclansmen. The only reason that Rialla noticed him at all was that
he was one of the few people she'd met that she couldn't use her empathy to read.
She had felt his eyes on her as she danced for her betrothed. She couldn't recall the
boy's face now, though she remembered thinking him handsome.

After the festival the Trade clans split up to travel again, with the understanding
that they would meet at the same place in exactly one year for the marriage, as was
customary.

Two nights later the slavers attacked Rialla's clan, killing the men and the old
peopleЧand taking the younger women and children as slaves. It was the outlander
who led the slavers. She could still feel the first touch of his hand on her face. It was
the first time she'd been able to read him with her talent: her first taste of a Darranian
slave trainer.