"Robert Don Hughes - Pelman 01 - The Prophet Of Lamath" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hughes Robert Don)

moment, then spat out a seed. "The fact of the matter is, I don't know." "You don't know! Then where are we going!"
Pelman thought about that for a moment. "Away," he then said simply.

"That's no answer!" Bronwynn stamped. "On the contrary, my Lady. In this case, it is the very best answer-for right
now." "I don't understand what you're talking about." "Events have been put in motion, my Lady, events in which you
play an important role. We must balance these actions with some unexpected reaction, or evil plans may succeed."
"What plans? What are you talking about?" "I don't know myself, my Lady. But since these plans have already
included your abduction and captivity, I would guess that you would prefer they be foiled." "So take me home then."
"And let you be kidnapped again?" "What difference does it make to you?" "I don't know." Pelman smiled. "Perhaps a
great deal." He took another bite out of the apple, and Bronwynn began judging the distance between herself and the
horse.

"My father always said you were crazy, Pelman. He didn't know the half of it." She strolled casually toward the stream,
watching out of the comer of her eye as the horse dropped his head down to drink.

"Your father and I have had our disagreements, it's true." Pelman nodded, gazing at the blue sky between the leaves
above him. "My major argument with Talith as an audience is that he always tends to believe he knows what you are
going to say before you say it-and then replies to what he thinks you've said, rather than to what you've actually said.
He takes it into his mind that he knows more about what's going on than anyone around him . . . which of course
leaves all around him free to do anything they wish. He is suspicious of his friends, and trusting of his enemies."
"Mmm-hmmn," she agreed, bending down to the stream to take a cupped handful of the icy water. She judged herself
to be twenty feet from the horse. Pelman, behind her, was at least another twenty feet farther from the horse than she,
and was lying on his back. Could she make it to the beast and onto it before Pelman could react and catch her? "Of
course," Pelman continued, "since he rarely listens to what others are saying, he's frequently surprised by what others
do. He is chagrined when others seem to read his mind. But it is just that Talith is so obvious in what he thinks!" "Yes,
sometimes," Bronwynn said absently, moving a step closer to the horse.

"It appears perhaps you take after him." "Why do you say that?" Bronwynn asked politely.

She had decided that three more steps would put her close enough to make her dash.

"Because you're obviously planning to try to steal the horse, and don't realize that any fool could tell." Pelman rolled
onto his stomach and smiled at her shocked expression. "As I can," he concluded. She gave Pelman her full attention
now, and tensed her muscles, ready to make the attempt anyway. "Go ahead, my Lady, if you desire. But don't be
surprised if the road back to your father proves difficult to find and dangerous to travel." "There are paths through the
mountains," she said defiantly. "Our slave raiders travel them regularly." "So do raiders from Ngandib-Mar-or had you
forgotten that slavery cuts both ways?" "I could find the path and hide, until the golden warriors of Chaomonous
approach, and then show myself!" "I don't believe even you are that naive, my Lady. The warriors of Chaomonous,
while raiding for slaves, certainly don't advertise who they are by wearing golden mail. They disguise themselves. But
assuming you should make contact with raiders from your own land-how do you think they would respond to you?"
"They would recognize me as their Princess!" Pelman chuckled. "Why are you laughing? Are you laughing at me?"
She stomped angrily.

"Bronwynn, can you imagine the reaction of a normal, sane warrior of Chaomonous to a dirty little girl he has captured
in the mountains of Ngandib-Mar, when she claims to be his Princess? Few warriors have even seen you from a
distance, my Lady. They wouldn't recognize you." "But they will come looking for me! They know by now I've been
kidnapped. My father will send his whole army after me!" "I question that. He doesn't know you have escaped. I'm
sure he will make some attempt to get you back, but most of his efforts will be aimed at the house of Ognadzu."
Bronwynn looked at him. "You mean he won't send soldiers after me?" "He doesn't know you're here. How can he?"
"Well-where does he think I am then?" "Surely he believes by this time you are being held captive at Flayh's mansion