"Watt-Evans,.Lawrence.-.Ethshar.5.-.Taking.Flight" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dragon Stories)

He nodded. Why not? Why shouldnt he actually do it, go all the way to Shan on the Desert? It was a great city, wasnt it? The prophecy had said he would see great cities. And the Bazaar there was said to befull of wonders and magic.
I havent been there in thelongest time, Irith said. Could I come with you? We could get to know each other betterI get lonely sometimes, living by myself.
Sure, Kelder said, trying to sound nonchalant. Id be glad of some company myself.
That, of course, was an understatement. Kelder thought she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, and given half a chance, hed have followed her wherever she wanted to go. To haveher followinghim was even better, since she couldnt very well consider him a nuisance in that case.
The prospects for a short courtship and swift marriage were looking better every moment.
There were obstacles, of course, like his limited funds, but he tried not to think about those.
Lets go, then, shall we? She got to her feet, and he caught another glimpse of the curious colored rings on her ankle as her breeches fell back into place. She started down the hillside.
He started to follow, then stopped. Wait a minute, he said, flustered, I need to pack up my things here! He turned, and quickly gathered up his belongings, stuffing them into his pack as fast as he could.
When he was sure he wasnt leaving anything important he got up, slung the pack on his shoulder, and trotted down the hill to where Irith waited, smiling. It was only as he came up beside her that he realized her wings were gone.
Hai!he said, startled.
What is it? she asked, looking about.
Your wings, he said, feeling very foolish. Whered they go?
The thought occured to him that maybe she had never really had wings at all, maybe theyd been an illusion of some kindbut hadnt she said she had wings?
Oh! she said with a giggle, didnt I tell you that? Its part of the spell. I dont have wings all the time, only when I want to. And theyre kind of a nuisance when Im walking, so I got rid of them.
But... Kelder began, then stopped. He really didnt know how to express his puzzlement, especially not in Traders Tongue.
Oh, dont worry about it, silly! Irith said. Come on!
She started walking, and he hurried to catch up. A moment later, he asked, But where do theygo?
She shrugged, a gesture he found wonderfully winsome.I dont know, she said. Its magic, of course.
But when you want them back, where do you ... I mean...
She sighed. Dont worry about it, all right? Im a shapeshifter, thats all. Thats what the spell really was. I can shift back and forth between being me with wings, and me without wings, just the way some wizards can turn themselves into cats or birds or other things.Thats all!
Oh, he said, trying to absorb this. Shape-changing or not, that something could exist sometimes, and not at other times, did not seem to make very much sense.
Then he decided not to worry about it. It was magic, and as far as he knew, magic didnt have to make sense, it justwas. If she could shift her shape, she could do it, and there wasnt any point in trying to figure out how, any more than in trying to figure out how that wizard had made a tree whistle.
Figuring out more about Irith herself was far more interesting, anyway.
And at least it meant that he neednt worry that the wings would be in the way.
They walked on, chatting occasionally and simply enjoying each others company the rest of the time, strolling on at a comfortable pace, eastward toward the rising sun and Shan on the Desert.
The question of just what Kelder was going to do in Shan, or anywhere else, of just how the rest of the prophecy would fulfill itselfor could bemade to fulfill itselflurked unheeded in the back of his mind.
Chapter Three
As they walked, a handful of people passed them eastbound, riding horses or heavily-loaded mules; one brown-clad man on foot ran past, panting. In the other direction they had as yet encountered only a single traveler, an old woman in a green robe who strode past at a pace belying her age. The two youths spoke to none of them, but Kelder was relieved to see that there actually were people using the Great Highway. They met no caravans, no marching armies, no minstrels or magiciansat least, not so far as Kelder could seebut at least the road was not deserted.
They had been walking for slightly less than an hour when they first came in sight of the forest. Kelder stared.
He had seen trees before, and groves, but the forest seemed to extend forever, all along the south side of the highway, while to the north there were only the familiar farms, a patchwork of cornfields and pastures, with occasional sheep and cattle scattered in the pastures.
Thats called the Forest of Amramion, Irith told him, even though most of its actually in Uramor, and this corner here is in Hlimora.
It is?
Sure. It means were getting close to the border between Hlimora and Amramion, but we havent reached it yet.
Oh, Kelder said. He stared at the forest for a moment more and then said, It certainly is big.
Oh, its nothing special, Irith said offhandedly. The forests in Derua are a lot more impressivethe trees are at least twice as tall.
They are? Kelder asked, turning to look at her face. It was more attractive than the forest anyway. For all the time they had been walking he had hoped she would speak, that she would say something that would give him an excuse to talk to her, a chance to develop a little more of a relationship. He wanted to get to know his future wife better.
He had thought that perhaps a traveler would greet them, or Irith would remark on something, or simply that some opportunity would occur to him to speak upbut now that he had that opportunity, he feared he was sounding like an idiot.
Yes, they are, Irith said. Ive seen them. And Ive heard that the woods in Lumeth of the Forest are even better, but I havent been there, and some people say that way up north in Aldagmor and Sardiron there are forests that make anythinganywhere in the Small Kingdoms look like nothing much.
Really? Kelder asked.
Idont know, Irith said. But thats what Ive heard.
They walked on silently for a moment after that, Kelder trying to think of something to say to continue the conversation. Finally, prompted by an emptiness in his belly, he asked, Have you had any breakfast?
Irith glanced at him. No, she said, but thats okay, Im not hungry.
Iam, Kelder said. Do you think we can find something to eat around here?
Well, Irith said, a trifle reluctantly, there are inns in the village of Amramion, where the kings castle is.
How far is that?
Irith looked up the highway, then back the way they had come. Oh, she said, about three leagues. Hlimora Castles a lot closer, of course.
It is? Kelder asked, startled.
Sure, Irith said. Thats where I stayed last night. Where did you think I came from?
I dont know, Kelder said. I guess I thought youd camped out somewhere, same as I did.
She looked at him as if convinced he was insane. Why would I dothat? she asked. Its cold and wet and uncomfortable, sleeping outdoors.