"Tanya Huff - Death Rites" - читать интересную книгу автора (Huff Tanya)

"I doubt she cares," Commander Baird had muttered a little too loudly and now Zayit was the only
senior officer the marshal saw.

"The raven's back, sir."

"Are you certain it's the same bird, Commander?"

She was, actually. Something set this raven apart. It was larger than most, and it had a way of staring
into the camp that lifted all the hair on the back of her neck. Today, it had drifted silently down to land
beside the crumpled black figure outside the fortress walls. "Yes sir. I'm certain."

Then a second raven landed like a shadow beside the first.

"It seems to have found a companion."

"Yes, sir. Shall I send a squad out to collect the body?"

"No. Let him lie, as Visolela and Ganit lie."

"Sir, Visolela and Ganit went off the cliff. Orban is on the road."

"I see where the body is, Commander. Why do you think Jolan had it thrown onto the road? Precisely so
we would send a squad to reclaim it." He squared broad shoulders and folded his arms. "But I give the
orders here, not her."

Zayit couldn't see his face, but she could hear the edged smile in his voice. Her right hand clutched at the
silver-and-onyx ring she wore on the smallest finger of her left hand. The ring, given to officers with
their commission, marked her as priest of J├╝r, Goddess of Battles. The marshal's ring held a ruby, the
color of fresh blood. As he commanded the Seventh Army, he was high priest of its goddess as well.
He'd accepted the position as his due and had performed the necessary rituals with pomp and
circumstance.

To challenge his belief would be to challenge his authority as the marshal of the Seven Annies and
destroy her career.


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At least five soldiersтАФas well as the two on guardтАФ were close enough to have overheard. By midday,
everyone would know Marshal Arnon had refused rites to one of the dead.

"Sir, we weren't able to do the rites for the others, but OrbanтАж"

"Will have to do without them as well. I have brought two divisions here for Jolan, burned a village, and
lost three assassins. Now, I will have to maintain a division at her feet indefinitely. I think she has
dictated quite enough." He nodded toward the road. "Besides, J├╝r has sent her ravens. I'd say it was
Visolela and Ganit come for their friend, but assassins have no friends, even among themselves. Have a