"Barb & J. C. Hendee - Noble Dead 03 - Sister of the Dead" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hendee JC & Barb)

"All the more to learn of... this continent's people and cultures. Language is my strength as a cathologer,
a sage skilled in the nature of knowledge itself. One more to learn is one more benefit of the journey.
There is no choice in the matter. Leave without me, and I will only follow you. "

Chap groaned, and his furry face wrinkled like Magiere's scowl.

Leesil exchanged glances with Magiere, but neither of them said a word.

Though half-elven, he'd never known his mother's people or learned their language. Wynn might prove
useful, once they turned north out of Droevinka. But by the way the stubborn little sage reacted to
Magiere's homeward purpose, there was more to Wynn's interests than fabled lands and foreign tongues.

"Let's pack up the wagon and pay the innkeeper, " he said. "Save the rest of the talk, as we have to go
back into Bela for more supplies. "

The barest smile settled on Wynn's lips as she turned toward the door. "Come, Chap. I brought
something for you. "
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As she stepped out, Chap glanced up, but Leesil shrugged. The dog whined and loped after the young
sage as Magiere shook her head in disbelief.

Leesil gathered their few belongings, carrying their chest with Magiere's help. Outside by the road, he
shivered in the chill autumn air and spotted Wynn's pile of belongings stacked beside the inn's front door.
He led the way around the side to the stable, a rickety shake roof on poles that leaned against the inn's
weathered wall for support. Crude railings divided its weed-strewn space into stalls, and therein were the
two horses for their nearby wagon.

Wynn crouched upon the ground with a large piece of tanned hide rolled out before her. Its edges were
cut square, and its length and breadth matched the reach of one arm. On it were rows of elegant and
curved markings and symbols, either singular or in groups, and all drawn with ink. Some were organized
into columns, and a few groups of symbols like scrawled words or phrases were set off to either side
within small circles and squares.

The markings were strangely familiar to Leesil, though for a moment he couldn't remember when or
where he'd seen them. Then he remembered Wynn scribbling with chalk upon the floor of the sages'
barracks. They'd stumbled upon Chap's little secret, a hint to his true nature as amajay-hi, a Fay in a
dog's body. Wynn marked words and letters upon the floor so he could paw out answers to her
questions, though the process had proved less than efficient.

Leesil stepped closer, as did Magiere. The hide Wynn had made was more compact and orderly but still
as unreadable to Leesil as the chalk all over the barracks floor.

Chap cocked his head and began pawing at the hide.

"Not bad, " Leesil commented. "But we need to get on with the day. "