"Elliott,.Kate.-.Crown.Of.Stars.3.-.Burning.Stone" - читать интересную книгу автора (Elliott Kate)

The air shuddered and rippled on the road far behind her, just
where it hooked to the right around a bulge in the forest's girth,
Columns of mist rose into the air like great tree trunks
uprooted from the forest and spun into gauze.

Surely it was only a trick of the light. But claws seemed to sink
into her, into her shoulders and deeper yet, right down to her
heart, and those claws clutched at her, tugging her back
toward the tolling bells. Why not just wait? Why not just slow!
down and wait?

"Come to me, Liathano. Do not run any longer. Only wait for
us, and you will find peace."

Her horse snorted nervously and flattened its ears.

"Waitfor us. Come to us."

She hesitated.

"Run, " Da would answer. "Run, Liath. "

The compulsion to wait slid from her like rainwater off a good
roof. With fear and anger fueling her, she urged her mount
forward. It eagerly broke into a canter. She glanced back, and
her heart almost died within her. Creatures formed like
columns of living oily smoke streamed along the road, chasing
her. They; had voices, a rustling murmur like countless leaves
stirred in a gale, underscored by that terrible dull tolling bell-
voice. Thai they were living creatures she did not doubt.

And they were gaining on her.

She freed her bow from its quiver, readied an arrow. On the
wind she smelled a hot stench like that of the forge. Her ho:
bolted, and she let it run while she turned in the saddle and,
drawing, measured the distance between her and her
pursuers. She loosed, but the arrow fell harmlessly onto
empty road.

The shout came as warning. "Hey, there! Look where you're
going!"

Ahead, in the dimness, she saw a small party: two riders and
an escort of four men-at-arms. A minor lord, perhaps, or a
steward about the business of his lady: She did not recognize
the sigil of a deer's head on white that marked the shields.
They swung wide to make room for her headlong flight.