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

"Where were they going?" Welstiel asked.

"How should I know?" she retorted. "I ain't no eavesdropper or peeper!"

"Of course not, " Welstiel said apologetically and opened his purse again. "Perhaps you heard something
in passing that might be helpful?"

Again she grunted. "The half-blood said something about resupplying in Bela, and the woman talked of
the inland road around the gulf. That's all I remember. "

Welstiel gave her another silver shil and put his hand on her shoulder. He steered her toward the door as
Chane stepped out of her way.

"You have been most helpful, madam, " Welstiel said. "If you could leave us, we will be on our way
momentarily. "

Two coins in hand, the innkeeper glanced at him once and did not argue. "Good night, sir, " she said, as
if remembering her manners.

"Good night, " Welstiel answered, and closed the door behind her.

When the woman's footsteps faded down the hall, Chane turned on Welstiel.

"There is no one else here to sound an alarm. Who knows when we'll have a chance to feed again?"

Welstiel leaned threateningly toward Chane. "You will not leave a trail of torn bodies like some rabid
animal. Control your urges or be gone. "

Chane did not relish servitude to a new master now that he was free of Toret, but he remained silent.
Hunger's heat faded too slowly for comfort, leaving his senses fully open to cast about the small room.
The scent of life thinned in the old woman's absence, and something more subtle took its place.

Sweet, almost refreshing, it brought him the memory of quiet moments, ancient texts and scrolls, and a
cold lamp gleaming brightly from a tabletop. He pictured Wynn sitting beside him and could almost smell
the herbal aroma that followed her everywhere. But the fragrance was not hers.

"So, what now?" he asked, looking about the room at the disarrayed bed, the small stool, the bedside
table with its half-melted candle and three mugs.

"We go into Bela and purchase horses, " Welstiel replied. "Magiere is beginning a journey. I suspected
but was uncertain until now. Purchasing supplies in a large city likely took until noon. They cannot be
more than half a day ahead of us, and we might close the distance before sunrise. We must hurry to find a
stable still open now that night has come. "

Chane barely heard Welstiel's words as he fixated upon the three pottery mugs. He stepped closer to
the bedside table, and the strange scent of memory surrounded him. Dread crept into him as he picked
up one mug.

At its bottom was a single mint leaf among scant tea grounds.