"Sharon Green - Jalav 2 - An Oath To Mida" - читать интересную книгу автора (Green Sharon)

JALAV 2: An Oath to Mida
by Sharon Green

CH 1. A meeting of enemies and the tears of Mida
The fey was more than cool despite the brightness of the skies, yet I would not allow the
discomfort of it to touch me. My warriors and I wore naught save the clan covering of the
Hosta about our hips, each of us standing within small, silent sets not far from the platforms
which had been set upon the grass within sight of the entrance of the immense dwelling of
Galiose. The High Seat of Ranistard had declared a feast that fey for those who would soon
arrive in the city, yet my warriors and I planned a greeting of another sort. I sat cross-legged
upon the grass, watching the slaves both male and female prepare the provender for the
feast, and Gimin and Fayan came to sit beside me.
"All are prepared, Jalav," said Fayan, her brown eyes arove among my warriors. Then a small
laugh escaped her, and she tossed her heavy, golden hair. "The males insisted to all Hosta
that they be present at the feast for the Silla. Soon shall such demands be regretted by
them."
"Males must ever be demanding actions of warriors," I murmured, my eyes, too, unable to
rest. "The damned Silla shall be welcomed as Hosta are ever wont to welcome blood
enemies, and I regret only the loss of our weapons. Yet shall we make do without. How goes
the time for your slave, Fayan?"
Fayan's eyes came to me, and laughter was there in them as well as in her voice. "The slave
Nidisar finds his lot a hard one." She grinned, her hand going to her life sign where it hung
upon its leather about her neck. "I have had him secured in the room of feeding in his own
dwelling and there have I used him each time desire has come to me." She paused to laugh
again, with true pleasure. "Truly has he been repaid for his actions with me, and great anger
is ever upon him-most especially when he must swallow his slave gruel, or have it forced
upon him by Galiose's males. My enjoyment of him is great, and I shall not see him released
till my revenge is complete."
"I do not envy you your enjoyment," said Gimin sourly as she lay upon her side by us. Her
hair, as black as mine, fell about the arm she leaned upon, and her gray eyes watched the
grass. "The male will not forget your treatment of him," said she, "and if ever you release him,
you may be sure he shall see to his own revenge. I do not care for the revenge of males."
Fayan and I exchanged a glance, for easily might it be seen that Gimin yet felt the
punishment given her by the male who had claimed her. The Hosta, once free, had all been
taken captive by the males of Ranistard, and now were we expected to tend to the males and
obey them, and serve them in their pleasure. Gimin had joined Fayan, Larid, Binat and myself
when we had escaped from Ranistard to seek the third Crystal of Mida, yet had we been
recaptured by the males, the Crystal taken from us, and we, ourselves, returned to Ranistard.
Much angered had Gimin's male been at her attempt to regain freedom, and much leather
had he used upon her in punishment. After having given her humiliation and pain, he had
used her as though she were slave and unable to deny him, saying he would teach her
clearly what her actions had brought upon her. Gimin continued to ache from his anger, yet
she had joined us as we grouped against the coming of the Silla, for true Hosta warrior was
she. The pain given by males was not to be considered against the duty a Hosta owed to her
clan.
Fayan was no longer amused, and she, too, stretched out upon the grass in thought, her
unbound hair amove about her. Once before had she angered Nidisar, and the male had not
been gentle with her. That was doubtless now in her thoughts, although the time was past
when the predicament might be avoided. Galiose had given Fayan the gift of Nidisar as a
slave, for Fayan had demanded such in exchange for her assistance in using the device of