"Doranna Durgin - Wolverine's Daughter" - читать интересную книгу автора (Durgin Doranna)

"The pit," Gort affirmed. "So just hand over yer cloak, now, you wouldn't want it spoilt down there."

Kelyn crossed her arms over her chest and glared at them. She'd never have simplyfollowed him to this
place if she'd had any idea what it was all about, and she had no intention of staying here. Gort shrugged,
and gestured to the big man. "Take her, then. You've got a hand of days coming to you, Keturan. You
best take those days to think about yer life. I seen more'n my share of you come down from the hills, and
them that don't scurry on back spend most their days in pits one place or another, never turnin' away
from trouble when it steps out in front of them. You're headed for the same, you don't wise up."

Kelyn snorted at him. "I'mnot afraid of trouble," she said, and what she didn't say sounded just as loud
through the room.Not like you are .

"Neh," Gort said, finally letting the parchment curl back into its roll. "None of ye are. Just look at that
Thainn fellow. But ye got any brains to speak of, ye'll change yer mind. Be a shame to waste one such as
you."

And what was that supposed to mean? Kelyn opened her mouth to cut through all these words and
demand her staff again, but Gort had nodded at the big man, and his hand closed around her arm, fingers
digging in at her initial resistance. As if she would let these two bullies throw her in some pit for doing the
very thing they ought to have done themselves!

Looking at the big man's bulk filling the door, at the tiny window high on the wall, Kelyn abruptly
squelched her first impulse to fight. This was not the place. She let herself be led out the doorтАФnot
missing a syllable of Gort's whispered,Get that cloak before she goes down тАФand into a corridor so
tiny the man had to drag her behind him, for they didn't fit abreast. They went past a series of doors, one
of which was open far enough for Kelyn to get a glimpse of weapons and satchels and an odd saddle or
two; she craned to see if her staff was there, but the man unheedingly jerked her onwardтАФtoward a
growing stink which far outmatched that of the tavern.

Civilization.

The corridor dead-ended and there in the floor there was a rusty iron grate.The pit . From within came
weak, pleading cries for water and freedom, and the most incrediblestench . . . . Kelyn stared into the
darkness beyond the grate, her face wrinkled into an expression of utter disgust. Beside her, the man
rumbled in mean laughter and yanked the heavy grating up, leaning it against the wall. "Gimme the cloak
now, sister, we've got better use for it than you."

Kelyn's eyes narrowed. As strong as she was, she had no doubt the man was stronger, and she had no
staff to use on himтАФbut there was something to be said for quickness and leverage. The floor between
the other side of the pit and the wall was a mere hand and a half wide, but Kelyn had gripped narrower
ledges than that with the same toes on which she now balanced. Slowly, she undid the ties to her cloak,
and handed the fur over to him.

As soon as his hand closed over it, she leapt, whirling to face him, her feet landing solidly in the narrow
space available and the cloak stretched between them over the stench of the pit. He was already off
balance, surprised and even confused, though the confusion vanished as Kelyn gave the cloak a yank,
putting all her strength into itтАФand he teetered forward over the gaping hole. Snatching another handful
of fur, she gave another, sharper tugтАФand over he went, dropping the cloak in favor of grabbing the
edge of the pit.