"Paul Kearney - Monarchies of God 4 - The Second Empire" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kearney Paul)

HawkwoodтАЩs mouth was as dry as salt. тАЬHello Bardolin,тАЭ he said.

тАЬCome to make sure the beast is still in his lair?тАЭ

тАЬSomething like that.тАЭ

тАЬAre we about to sink?тАЭ

тАЬNot yetтАФnot just yet, anyway.тАЭ

The great wolf bared its fangs in what might have been a grin. тАЬWell, we must be thankful.тАЭ

тАЬHow much longer will you be like this?тАЭ
тАЬI donтАЩt know. I am beginning to control it. This morningтАФwas it morning? One cannot tell down
hereтАФI stayed human for almost half a watch. Two hours.тАЭ A low growl came out of the beastтАЩs mouth,
something like a moan. тАЬIn the name of God, why do you not let Murad kill me?тАЭ

тАЬMurad is mad. You are not, despite thisтАФthis thing that has happened to you. We were friends,
Bardolin. You saved my life. When we get back to Hebrion I will take you to your master, Golophin. He
will cure you.тАЭ Even to himself HawkwoodтАЩs words felt hollow. He had repeated them too many times.

тАЬI do not think so. There is no cure for the black change.тАЭ

тАЬWeтАЩll see,тАЭ Hawkwood said stubbornly. He noticed the lumps of salt meat which bobbed in the filthy
water of the bilge. тАЬCanтАЩt you eat?тАЭ

тАЬI crave fresher meat. The beast wants blood. There is nothing I can do about it.тАЭ

тАЬAre you thirsty?тАЭ

тАЬGod, yes.тАЭ

тАЬAll right.тАЭ Hawkwood unslung the wineskin he had about his neck, tugged out the stopper, and hung the
lantern on a hook in the hull. He half crawled forward, trying not to retch at the stench which rose up
about him. The heat the animal gave off was unearthly, unnatural. He had to force himself close to it and
when the head tilted up he tipped the neck of the wineskin against its maw and let it drink, a black tongue
licking every drop of moisture away.

тАЬThank you, Hawkwood,тАЭ the wolf said. тАЬNow let me try something.тАЭ

There was a shimmer in the air, and something happened that HawkwoodтАЩs eyes could not quite follow.
The black fur of the beast withered away and in seconds it was Bardolin the Mage who crouched there,
naked and bearded, his body covered in saltwater sores.

тАЬGood to have you back,тАЭ Hawkwood said with a weak smile.

тАЬIt feels worse this way. I am weaker. In the name of God, Hawkwood, get some iron down here. One
nick, and I am at peace.тАЭ

тАЬNo.тАЭ The chains that held Bardolin fast were of bronze, forged from the metal of one of the shipтАЩs