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

She remembered the night he'd first kissed her, taking her by surprise as they'd argued in the sage's
barracks following the end of their hunt in Bela. The words he'd spoken just before the touch of his
mouth still lingered in her thoughts.

"I've lived three lives, " he'd said. "As a child in the War-lands, knowing only deceit and death. Then
roaming the countryside alone but for Chap. Finally, the game with you, from the night we met... with
Chap's meddling. I'm looking at a fourth life now. Any life begins by stepping forward to live it. And I say
againтАФI won't die on you. "

So little time had passed since they'd curled together the following night in the first inn on the road out of
Bela. This new closeness was awkward and strange, but she clung to it. For his sake more than her own,
she wished this fourth life to be his last and longest.

Leesil's hand rested upon her thigh beneath the blanket as the barge slipped along the river. She put her
hand on top of his, thumb wrapping around his wrist. She felt the scars there from her own teethтАФfrom
the long lost night in Miiska when he'd saved her life with his own blood. Those marks made fear crawl
through her, but she refused to pull her hand away.

Magiere watched the autumn-gilded world glide by, saw its changes not only in season but in the land
itself as they passed through the far reaches of Belaski on the south shore and Stravina to the north side.
After seven more days, they passed beyond the well-kept ways of Belaski and into another world, where
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the river became a border between Stravina and Droevinka. Neither country had Belaski's wealth or
organized government to oversee even the main land routes along the Vudrask. As the river narrowed
and its current increased slightly, the bargemen switched their own mules for ox teams chartered from
local fanners eager for income during the fallow time. Passage became difficult and slow. After spending
one day to cover four leagues, they stopped at a large village.

Magiere intended for them to ride the barge a bit farther, but her home village, Chemestuk, was a
three-day ride away. This stop would be the last place to purchase mounts. When she suggested this to
Leesil, he threw a fit.

"Horses? Trust my neck to some flea-bitten bag of muscle lunging around on four stick legs, and lurching
at every windblown leaf? I'd rather puke my way up the coast on a cargo schooner!"

The following quarrel made the barge crew cease their dockside duties and stareтАФnot to mention
villagers close enough to overhear. In the end, Magiere purchased three sturdy ponies and a pack mule,
then bullied Leesil into the saddle, while Wynn finished repacking their supplies.

That had been three days ago, and Magiere now waited upon her pony for Leesil to catch up. He'd
barely spoken all day except to mumble colorful curses at his shaggy mount, which ignored most of his
demands.

Magiere surveyed her dank homeland. Old trees were dotted with moss that dangled in scant beards
from the branches. The ground was perpetually moist in the chill air, and beneath the aroma of loam and