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

After so many nights, Magiere knew this one phrase, though there wasn't really a need for Elvish to ask
the dog what he wanted to eat. He'd eat most anything dangled in front of his nose, and the choices were
limited anyway. Chap scooted close to the sage and reached out a paw to touch a few symbols on the
talking hide.

"Dried fish, " Wynn interpreted, following the thumps of the dog's paw. "A skinned apple. Leesil, I need
a knife. "

Leesil's frown deepened. He rolled his shoulders as if the shirt beneath his wool cloak itched. Magiere
tried to ignore his reaction.

Such exchanges with Chap still bothered Leesil. In all honesty, now that the dog's nature was partially
revealed, Magiere had begun to appreciate how well Wynn communicated with Chap. Rather than
begging or carrying on in his usual dramatics, Chap pawed at Wynn until she brought out the hide. Yet
beyond this simple chatter, he revealed little more concerning his nature as amajay-hi or his reasons for
meddling in Leesil's life to bring him into Magiere's company years ago. He ignored the talking hide
whenever Wynn raised such issues. Chap's longstanding deception still grated on Leesil's nerves, and
troubled Magiere. Sooner or later, Chap would have to answer for this.

Leesil pursed his lips, handed over his knife, and then
pulled out some smoke-dried fish. Wynn went to work peel
ing an apple. ┬╗

Staring into the fire, Magiere's hand settled absently on her falchion's hilt, middle fingertip tracing the
small glyph in its pommel. The blade injured a Noble Dead like no other weapon. This, her studded
hauberk, and two amulets had been left to her by a father she'd never known upon the death of a mother
she'd never met. During the battle in Bela, she'd given Leesil the topaz amulet that glowed yellow when
an undead was near. She no longer needed it; her dhampir senses were enough to warn her, and the
amulet might well warn Leesil of danger if she couldn't.

The other trinket remained a mystery, in part, but she wore it in plain view- A small half-oval tin backing
held a chip of bone with mysterious fine writing carved into its surface. It had been used only once, and
she'd been unaware of that until too late. Welstiel had told Leesil that a dhampir could absorb life from
blood only if the bone touched her skin while she fed. Leesil had recklessly done just that, feeding her
from his own wrist when she'd been wounded during their first hunt for Miiska's undead. She touched the
amulet now and wondered how dependable Welstiel's words might be. The bone amulet felt warm,
perhaps from the fire, and she scooted back to sit against a tree trunk.
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All traces of daylight disappeared, and darkness closed around the camp. Leesil picked up a wool
blanket and came to settle beside her. As he covered both their legs, Magiere reached around him and
pulled him close until he leaned into her arms. His warmth against her burrowed deeper than the heat of
the flames, smothering her chill. Leesil leaned his head back on her shoulder, watching Wynn feed Chap
slices of a peeled apple.

"She's spoiling him, " he whispered.