"Maggie Furey - Shadowleague 2 - Spirit of the Stone" - читать интересную книгу автора (Furey Maggie)

reivers of the eastern hills. You can ...тАЭ He realized that Seriema was no
longer listening. Instead, she was looking back over her shoulder, her
expression a peculiar mixture of relief and dismay. Tormon, following the
direction of her gaze, felt his heart contract with dread. Unbelievable as it
might seem, given the utter chaos in the city, they were being pursued.

Glancing back, Seriema saw a cluster of bobbing lights as a knot of
Godsword soldiers, each one bearing a smoking torch, burst out of the city
gates. Even at this distance, it was clear that they were following the muddy
track of the fleeing travelers, and moving at a tremendous pace. The reins of
her horse began to slip through hands that had suddenly turned damp, and
she clenched her fingers tighter round the slippery leather. Surely that was
Blade? She squinted, trying to peer through the murk of drizzle and smoke.
A curse on this imperfect eyesight!
She was torn at the thought of encountering the Godsword Commander.
How can I face him, looking like this? was the first thought that shot into her
mind, followed by a blaze of anger at her own stupidity. You fool! He
doesnтАЩt care what you look like. Why should he? YouтАЩve served your purpose
now.
Seriema writhed at the memory of such gullibility. Blade had used her as a
catтАЩs-paw in his vendetta against the Hierarch and sheтАФor rather the plain,
lonely old maid concealed beneath her veneer of confidence and powerтАФ
had let him. Flattered by the attentions of the powerful, charismatic
Commander, she had walked into his trap with open eyes.
How can I face him after I let him make such a fool of me? Yet despite her
mortification, there remained a part of her that observed the approach of the
Godsword troops with relief. ItтАЩs all right now. IтАЩm safe. Lord Blade will
deal with this crisis. HeтАЩll take care of me.
TormonтАЩs curse cut across her deliberations. It was the first time she had
ever heard him swear. There was fear in his eyes when he glanced down at

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SPIRIT OF THE STONE - SHADOWLEAGUE 2 - MAGGIE FUREY

his daughterтАФbut that oath had contained a good deal of anger, too. Seriema
felt an unaccustomed stab of guilt. She had been so preoccupied with her
own selfish concerns, she had forgotten that Blade represented danger to the
trader and his child. Though she had no idea what lay behind his actions, the
Suffragan Gilarra had told her that the Godsword commander, together with
the Hierarch Zavahl, had been responsible for the murder of TormonтАЩs wife.
Tormon glanced behind once more, and shook his head. тАЬItтАЩs no good.
TheyтАЩll catch us in no time. The Sefrians are built for sustained power, not
bursts of speed.тАЭ
Seriema knew he was right. The Godswords, on their lighter, faster mounts,
were catching up already. She turned back to speak to the trader, but he had
dropped behind to ride with Scall, who was still insisting on leading
TormonтАЩs ridiculous donkey. The two drew close together for a moment,
then the boy fell back, seeming to melt into the dusk, and vanished into the
shadowy, smoke-wreathed area between the pyres.
When the trader turned back to Seriema, his arms were empty. There was a