"Sara Douglass - The Axis Trilogy 1 - BattleAxe" - читать интересную книгу автора (Douglass Sara)

reappearance when he should have stayed in Coroleas for another six weeks
confirmed the rumours that something was gravely wrong. Embeth felt a pang of
fear for Timozel. If Axis was involved then the trouble would also involve his
command.
She turned away and walked a few steps into the small bedchamber. Axis
had dumped his saddlebags and gear in one corner and Embeth resisted the
urge to straighten things out. His small travelling harp, never far from his side,
was set to one side of the bed. His axe, symbol of the Seneschal and of the Axe-
Wielders themselves, was propped up against the far wall. But Axis, like most
Axe-Wielders, also carried a sword and considered that his main weapon. It lay
close to hand in its scabbard, which was slung over the bedhead. Embeth
wondered how many men he had killed with it. How many men the Brother-
Leader had ordered him to destroy in the name of Artor and the Plough. She
loved and respected Axis, but she was more than a little in awe of his
position as BattleAxe within the Seneschal, and more than a little scared of
the power of the Seneschal and its Brother-Leader.
"Then the news is not good," she said softly, "if you had to ride back that far
and that fast."
Axis walked up behind her and gently rubbed the back of her neck with his
hand, marvelling at how soft her skin was and how silky-slippery her glossy
brown hair. "I know little, Embeth. I'm sure court rumour is about as accurate as
me at this stage."
Embeth doubted that very much, but understood his reticence. Axis rarely
talked about his position as BattleAxe and never talked about where and to what
his duties led him. She let her head relax back against his gently massaging
fingers. "Did Timozel do well in Coroleas, Axis?"
"Timozel continues to do well, my Lady of Tare, and you should be proud of
him. If Ganelon," Embeth's dead husband, "were alive he would be proud of him
also. Timozel grows tall," he kissed the back of Embeth's neck, "and strong,"
another kiss, "and wiser with each passing week." Axis slowly turned Embeth
around and softly kissed her mouth. "He should be arriving back in Carlon with
the other Axe-Wielders in two or three days time. But right now, my Lady of
Tare, I fear I am far too exhausted to talk any more."
 Axis always found it hard talking of Timozel to Embeth. What would he tell
her if Timozel ever found himself skewered on the wrong end of five handspans
of sharpened steel? How would he tell her? He forced his mind away from the
terrible image.
He was caught, unable to move, trapped by the thick hatred that seethed
across the blackness and distance between them. He writhed desperately, trying
to free his
pinned arms and legs, frantic to run from the horror that drew closer with
each breath he took.
"No," he whispered, "no...go away...no...I don't want you. You are not my
father. Go away."
But the evil, disgusting presence only drew closer. In a few moments he
knew that he would be able to smell its putrid breath. He gave up fighting to free
himself and instead lay panting heavily, knowing he should garner his strength
for the fight ahead.
"Go away!" he whispered again hoarsely.
It approached. He could feel it circling in the dark, could feel its loathsome