"Sharon Green - Jalav 1 - Crystals Of Mida" - читать интересную книгу автора (Green Sharon)

manner...."

"Silence!" I commanded, and struck him full across the face as he knelt before Remad. In fury, he
attempted to rise, yet was held in place by my warriors, and I turned to Remad. "Is he one of those who
came, Remad?" I asked. "Study his features well and then speak."

"It was not he," she whispered, gazing up at the captive. "Had he been among them, war leader, I would
have remembered."

"Look again and be sure," I said to Remad. "The journey north may be shortened, should we find one to
speak to us."

"He was not among them, Jalav," Remad whispered as I pressed the point of my dagger to the throat of
the captive. Surely he saw in my eyes my need to spill bloods and therefore he remained silent.

"So be it," said I, resheathing my dagger. "The journey to Ranistard must be taken without sight. We
shall have the words of the Keeper this darkness, and begin with the light that follows."

"Ranistard?" said the captive, with a frown of displeasure. "No man of Ranistard would perform so
senseless a deed. Ranistard was badly touched by the hand of Sigurr with a fever of death, and few are
the females now left to tend to the men. Had men of Ranistard been here, the wenches would have been
carried off with them."

"Something of greater value was carried off in their stead," said I to the captive, then to my warriors.
"Take him to the gandod and have him secured between two of them. We return shortly to the camp."

"Hold!" shouted the captive, standing his full height even against the weight of my warriors. "I have
been proven innocent, and demand to be released at once! Order the leather removed from me, girl!"

Once again I gazed upon the captive with approval. His spirit would do well for the warriors of my clan,
his large body strong enough to serve many of them. I calmly returned his heated glare.

"I am Jalav, war leader of the clan of the Hosta, foremost among the clans of the Midanna," I informed
him. "You have been chosen to serve my warriors the while, and shall be released upon the end of that
service. Should you continue in so insolent a manner, however, I shall order the leather applied to you
quite differently. I am amused to see a male act the part of warrior, yet have I little patience now to

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 JALAV 1: The Crystals of Mida

tolerate it. Be warned, sthuvad."

"Warned?" he roared in true fury, struggling against his bonds and my warriors. "By the slaying foot of
Sigurr the Terrible, am I to be warned by a black-haired female child who stands with only a wisp of
cloth about her hips? No! I am the true warrior here, and shall take my leather to the back of any
strutting female I lay hands upon! Scatter quickly, girl children, for now I come to punish!"

He attempted to part the leather which held him captive, and at the same time he threw himself toward
my warriors with a pale city battle cry. My warriors laughed in delight at this entertainment, all but one
stepping to him quickly to urge him on with a caress, and then dart easily out of his blundering path. The