"Laurell K. Hamilton - Ravenloft - Death of a Darklord" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hamilton Laurell K)

тАЬYou will slow us down,тАЭ Tereza said.
 тАЬThe fight will be over before anyone can help them. Jonathan said so. If thatтАЩs true, then it doesnтАЩt
matter if I slow you down, does it?тАЭ It was very sensible. A great deal more sensible than Elaine felt. She
could taste her pulse in her throat. If Elaine were badly hurt in the cold snow, they couldnтАЩt get to him in
time. The cold would finish what the animated tree had started. So why was her stomach tight, her heart
pounding? She had to go with them. She couldnтАЩt just wait here in the kitchen, safe. Tereza looked at her
husband. тАЬJonathan?тАЭ

He looked almost embarrassed. тАЬIt is the truth.тАЭ

тАЬWe canтАЩt wait for hours. The wolves might find them, dead or alive.тАЭ

тАЬWe can go now,тАЭ Elaine said.

The look on TerezaтАЩs face said she doubted that, but she didnтАЩt argue. тАЬI will fetch your coat. But you
must be ready to go when I get back. We wonтАЩt wait on you, Elaine.тАЭ She left, back very straight. Tereza
did not like waiting on anyone, especially if she thought it was silly. It wasnтАЩt silly, but Elaine knew she
couldnтАЩt explain that to Tereza. Or to Jonathan. Blaine would have understood, but he was out in the
snow, bleeding, hurt, or worse. Elaine tried to convince herself she would know if her twin brother were
dead, but somehow she didnтАЩt believe it. She wasnтАЩt sure. Once the vision was past, she didnтАЩt trust her
feelings. Feelings lied; they could tell you what you wanted to believe, not what was true. тАЬShe doesnтАЩt
mean to be harsh with you.тАЭ Jonathan took off his knit cap, a sheen of sweat already glistening on his
forehead.

тАЬI have to go, Jonathan.тАЭ She gulped the last of the tea. It was too hot and burned the roof of her mouth,
but she needed the warmth. She really didnтАЩt feel well enough to go. Tereza was right, but it didnтАЩt
matter. Elaine would go. She had to go.


Tereza returned with a white fur cloak that was the twin of the one Blaine had worn in the vision. Elaine
glanced up. She wasnтАЩt completely sure she could stand, but the look on TerezaтАЩs face was plain. Either
Elaine got up now, or she didnтАЩt go.

Mala appeared, lifting the tea mug from her hand. Her face was neutral, but her eyes held concern. She
was always on the side of the children, everybodyтАЩs children.

Elaine gripped the chair arms and levered herself upward. The muscles in her arms quivered. The
blanket slipped to the floor. Her hands stayed on the chair arms for a moment, then she pushed free. She
was forced to grab the back of the chair to keep from falling. Her legs shook underneath the long skirts.
It took all her resolve just to remain standing, one hand hooked onto the heavy back of the chair. She
wasnтАЩt sure she could walk, let alone ride to the great tree. Tereza held the white cloak out, at least three
strides from the chair. She made no move to step closer.

Jonathan stood uncomfortably between them. тАЬWe have no time for games, Tereza.тАЭ

тАЬNo time at all,тАЭ she said.

Elaine took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She drew two more deep breaths, trying to calm the
jerking muscles, willing the weakness away. She let go of the chair back, fingers lingering on the wood.
Tereza sighed. Elaine dropped her hand to her side. Her legs were braced, and she hoped no one could