"Bujold, Lois McMaster - Chalion 2 - Paladin of Souls" - читать интересную книгу автора (Bujold Lois McMaster)

FoixТs eyes widened. УWhat?Ф he said, in a weirdly conversational tone. Then his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed.


CHAPTER SIX

Liss was the first to get control of her mount and gallop back; she swung down off her bay, breathless with confusion and alarm. The groaning Pejar pushed himself up to a sitting position and boggled at the beheaded bear. His brow wrinkled in bewilderment at the sight of Foix lying on the ground beside the carcass, which still leaked hot blood. УSir . . . ?Ф
The fall from her horse had shaken IstaТs stomach, but it was the concussion from the demonТs passage that reverberated in her bones. Her mind felt unnaturally distanced from her body. She pulled off her vest-cloak, folded it, and knelt to try to drag FoixТs heavy body around and pillow his head.
Liss said, УLady, waitЧwas he stunned when his horse threw him? There may be broken bones . . .Ф
УDid his horse throw him? I didnТt see.Ф That would explain why he had been first to reach the bear, certainly. УNo, he was not hurt then. He slew the beast.Ф MoreТs the pity.
УHe slid right over the crupper onto his, um. Backside. I suppose there were no bones to break there.Ф Liss wrapped one rein around her arm to hold her snorting, backing horse, and knelt to help, poking her head up for an impressed glance at the evidence of carcass, sword, and distant head. УFive gods, what a blow.Ф She stared down at Foix. His face was the color of porridge. УWhatТs the matter with him?Ф
Ferda rode up next, took one look, and vaulted from his horse not even bothering to keep a rein. УFoix! Royina, what has happened?Ф He knelt to run his hands over his brotherТs body, searching for the injury, obviously expecting to see bloody damage from some massive clawed swipe. His brows knotted as he found none. He started to try to turn Foix over. Dy Cabon labored up, minus his mule, gasping for breath.
Ista grasped FerdaТs arm. УNo, your brother was not struck.Ф
УHe chopped off the bearТs head. Then he just . . . fell over,Ф confirmed Pejar.
УWas the beast mad, to attack like that?Ф panted dy Cabon. He bent over his belly to brace his hands on his knees and stare around as well.
УNot mad,Ф said Ista in a flat voice. УDemon-ridden.Ф
Dy CabonТs eyes widened, searching her face. УAre you sure, Royina?Ф
УEntirely sure. I . . . felt it.Ф It felt me.
Ferda rocked back on his heels, looking dumbfounded.
УWhere did it . . .Ф Dy CabonТs voice trailed off as he surveyed the shaken guard, Ista upright and in apparent possession of her wits. Foix lying as though bludgeoned. УIt didnТt go into him, did it?Ф
УYes.Ф Ista moistened her lips. УIt was backing off. I tried to stop him, but all he saw was a mad bear, I think, seeming to menace me.Ф
Dy CabonТs lips repeated the word, Seeming? His gaze upon her sharpened.
Dy CabonТs manifest belief finally convinced the stunned Ferda. His face nearly crumpled in tears. УLearned, what will happen to Foix?Ф
УThat dependsФЧdy Cabon swallowedЧУmuch on the nature of the demon in question.Ф
УIt was bearish,Ф reported Ista, still in that same flat voice. УIt may have consumed other creatures before the bear, but it could not have ingested the nature or intelligence of a man yet. It had no speech.Ф But now it possesses a very banquet of words and wits. How quickly would it start its feast?
УThat will change,Ф muttered dy Cabon, echoing IstaТs own thought. He took a deep breath. УNothing will happen instantly,Ф he asserted more loudly. Ista did not quite like the too-hearty tone of that. УFoix can resist. If he chooses. An inexperienced demon needs time to grow, to learn.Ф
To dig in, IstaТs thought supplied. To tap a soulТs strength, to prepare for siege. Did it follow that an experienced demon, fat with many souls of men, could conquer in a breath?
УStill, we should give it as little time as possible to . . . as little time as possible. A temple at one of the provincial seats will have the means, the scholars to deal with this. We must take him at once to the archdivine of TaryoonЧno. That would take a week.Ф He stared out over the hills toward the distant plains. УThe provincial temple at Maradi is closer. Ferda, where are your maps? We must find the speediest route.Ф
The other guardsmen were riding up, having captured the loose horses and mules. One towed FerdaТs mount. Ferda rose to search his saddlebags, but turned back quickly as Foix stirred and groaned.
FoixТs eyes opened. He stared up at the sky and the ring of faces hovering anxiously over him, and his brows drew down in a wince. УOh,Ф he muttered.
Ferda knelt by his head, his hands opening and closing helplessly. УHow do you feel?Ф he ventured at last.
Foix blinked. УI feel very strange.Ф He made a clumsy gesture with one handЧit looked like a paw, swipingЧand tried to roll over and stand up. He ended up on all fours instead. It took him two more tries to gain his feet. Dy Cabon held one arm and Ferda the other as he blinked again and moved his jaw back and forth a few times. He reached his hand toward his mouth, missed, and tried again. His fingers probed as if reassuring himself he felt a jaw and not a muzzle. УWhat happened?Ф
For a long moment, no one dared to answer. He looked around at their horror-stricken stares with increasing dismay.
Dy Cabon finally said, УWe think you have contracted a demon. It was riding the bear when it attacked.Ф
УThe bear was dying,Ф said Ista. Even in her own ears, her voice sounded oddly detached. УI tried to warn you.Ф
УItТs not true, is it?Ф Ferda asked. Begged. УThis cannot be.Ф
FoixТs face went still, inward; his eyes were fixed, unseeing for half a dozen breaths. УOh,Ф he said again. УYes. It is . . . is that what . . .Ф
УWhat?Ф Dy Cabon tried to make his voice gentle, but it came out edged with anxiety.
УThere is something . . . in my head. Frightened. All in a knot. As though trying to hide in a cave.Ф
УHm.Ф
It was becoming apparent that Foix was not about to turn into a bear, demon, or anything else much but a bewildered young man just yet. The seniors of the party, supporting Foix, all went a short distance away and sat on the ground to consult the maps. A couple of the guardsmen discussed the carcass in low voices and decided its diseased skin was not worth the peeling, though they collected the teeth and claws for souvenirs, then hauled it away off the road.
Ferda sorted out his map of the region and smoothed it over a wide, flat stone. His finger traced a line. УI believe our most efficient route to Maradi is to stay on this very track for another thirty miles or so, to this village. Then turn and descend almost due east.Ф
Dy Cabon glanced up toward the sun, already fallen behind the wall of mountains to their west, though the sky still glowed deep blue. УWeТll not make it there before this night falls.Ф
Ista dared to touch the map with one white finger. УIf we continue only a little, weТll come to that crossroad up to the old saintТs village that we intended to visit. WeТve already bespoken food and fodder and beds there. And we could start again early.Ф And there would be strong walls between them and any more bears. Although not between them and the demonЧa reflection she resolved to keep to herself.
Ferda frowned. УSix extra miles each way. More, if we mistake the track again.Ф Just such a deceptive fork in the road had cost them an hour, earlier in the day. УHalf a dayТs travel lost. We carry enough food and fodder for one nightЧwe can restock where we turn east.Ф He hesitated, and said more cautiously, УThat is, if you are willing to endure the discomforts of a night in camp, Royina. The weather looks to continue fair, at least.Ф
Ista fell silent. She misliked the scheme, but misliked still more the hint that she would put her comfort above her loyal officerТs clear need. Split the party, send the speediest riders on ahead with Foix? She misliked that idea as well. УI . . . have no preference.Ф
УHow do you feel about riding?Ф Ferda asked his brother.
Foix was sitting with his brow furrowed and an inward look, like a man with a stomachache. УHuh? Oh. No worse than usual. My rump hurts, but that has nothing to do with . . . with the other thing.Ф He was quiet a moment longer, then added, УExcept indirectly.Ф
Ferda said in a voice of military decision, УLet us push on as far and fast as we can tonight, then.Ф
A murmur of agreement ran around the little council squatting by the stone. Ista pressed her lips closed.
They put Foix back up on his nervous horseЧit took two men to hold the beast, and it sidled and snorted at first, but then settled as they set out again. Dy Cabon and Ferda rode close to Foix on either side. Protectively. Too late.