"Rawn, Melanie - Dragon Star 2 - Dragon Token" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dragon Stories)

The sound weighted the old man's shoulders with despair. Goddess forgive me, but if not for Tobin I would have done better to have died with my prince.



CHAPTER FOUR



The Court of the Storm God was behind them, the trail to Skybowl in front of them. It was Pol's intent to send the wounded there and continue on with the able-bodied to Feruche. When informed of this during a rest stop, Feylin swung around from salving a blister on Meig-lan's palm and gaped at him.

"You must be joking! Look at these peopleЧand if you've no mind for them, look at their horses!"

"We should have been nearly to Feruche by now," he argued. "Instead, we're barely in range of Skybowl."

"And anyone with eyes to see can understand why!" She turned to glare up at Maarken where he sat his weary stallion. "Will you please explain to him that the rest of us need foolish trifles like sleep and food every so often? And that we're not going to get them traipsing all over the Desert?"

The Battle Commander gave a shrug. "You seem to be expressing yourself well. Have at it."

"My lord. . . ?"

They turned at the sound of Meiglan's small, hesitant voice. Pol's eyes softened and he nodded encouragement. "What is it, Meggie?"

"I'm sorry, my lord, butЧbut I think Lady Feylin is right." Her fingers clenched around cuts and bruises left by reins on her ungloved palms, and her cheeks were pale beneath her sunburn, but her voice gained in confidence as she spoke. "For the children's sake, if no one else's, we ought to rest at Skybowl. If you wish to ride on to Feruche, I'm sure Kazander and his people are fit enough to guard us along the way."

'Us?"

"Why, yes, my lord," she answered, sounding surprised.

Maarken smiled for the first time in days. "She rode all the way from Dragon's Rest to be at your side. Do you think she'll let you go off without her now?"

Pol cleared his throat and cast a speculative look at his wife. "Ummm . . . that won't be necessary, my lady. We'll do as you suggest, and stay a day or two at Skybowl."

To Rohan, Sioned would have made some sarcastic comment about having to prop his eyelids open with tent stakes before he saw what was in front of him. Meiglan only murmured her thanks to Pol and opened her hands again so Feylin could finish her work.

Later, riding with Maarken at his side, Pol said, "Does Hollis still surprise you sometimes?" His cousin snorted by way of reply. Pol grunted irritably and muttered, "Don't tell me, I already know. Stupid question."

They found Walvis and told him everyone would be going to Skybowl. He nodded as if this had been obvious from the first.

"We'll leave the wounded there, and a small force to guard the approach," Pol said, thinking aloud. "Would you consider staying?"

"Whatever you like." He rubbed his thigh, just re-bandaged by Chayla. "I won't be much use for a while yet."

"Don't be silly," she called from nearby, where she was checking the splints around a warrior's broken arm. "If you'll stay off that leg for six or seven days, it'll be fine. Father, how's your shoulder?"

"Healing nicely, and no, you may not examine it. Feylin does very good work." He smiled down at her as she stood and hefted her coffer of medicines. "I'll see what I can do about finding you a lighter box. I hate to think of you lugging that thing all the Way to Feruche."

"But I'll be staying at Skybowl with my patients. Oh, don't frown at me! They need me."

Maarken drew himself up in his saddle. "I absolutely