"Elizabeth Haydon - Symphony of Ages - Threshold" - читать интересную книгу автора (Haydon Elizabeth)

тАЬStop it, Hector,тАЭ Anais said more firmly.

The young knightтАЩs eyes held the bright gleam of desperation in the fireshadows.

тАЬFor GodтАЩs sake, find me a bloodyboat тАФтАЭ

тАЬCease,тАЭ said Cantha. Her voice cut through the wind. The others turned to see her face impassive, her
eyes glinting either from sympathy or, more likely, from the rivulets of cold water that were now
insistently strafing her eyelashes. тАЬGet them out of the rain.тАЭ

The companions watched their leader silently, intently, oblivious to their increasingly sodden clothes and
heads. Hector bent over at the waist and put his hands on his knees, as if suddenly winded. He stood
thus for a long moment, then nodded, gulping for air.

тАЬWe will take shelter in the livery stable until the storm passes,тАЭ Anais said, squeezing HectorтАЩs shoulder
as he passed on his way to the woman and the child. тАЬItтАЩs the only building left with most of a roof.тАЭ

Hector nodded, still bent over.

тАЬWe will take them with us to the inn at the crossroads for the night,тАЭ he said when he could speak again.

The woman did not move as Anais approached, but the childтАЩs eyes widened in fear and he dashed
behind her. The Liringlas soldier stopped, then turned back to the others.

тАЬHector, you had best deal with this,тАЭ he said, his voice flat in the wind. тАЬI donтАЩt think he has seen one of
my race before.тАЭ
Hector straightened and shook the rain from his shoulders and head.

тАЬI am part Liringlas too, Anais.тАЭ

Anais gestured impatiently. тАЬAye, but you look more human, because youare . Come over here.тАЭ

Hector exhaled deeply, then walked quickly to AnaisтАЩs side. тАЬCome with us,тАЭ he said to the woman, but
she did not appear to be listening; if she was not standing erect, he would have believed that the life had
already fled her body. He crouched down and put out his hand to the child.

тАЬCome with me,тАЭ he said in the same tone he had used to coax his own son, only a year or so older than
this one. тАЬWe will take you where it is dry.тАЭ

The child stared out from behind the woman, water dripping from his hair.

Hector beckoned to him with his hand. тАЬCome along,тАЭ he said again.

The boy considered a moment more, then took the womanтАЩs hand and led her, still clutching her now
sodden shawl, to where the men stood.

With a sizzle, the brand in JarmonтАЩs hand extinguished in the rain.