"Isabo Kelly - The Heron's Call (Samhain)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kelly Isabo)

before she remembered her sword. Still cursing she returned to the bed roll, snatched up her weapon and
stomped away again, ignoring the look in KaelтАЩs beautiful green eyesтАФa combination of amusement,
confusion and hurt she didnтАЩt care to know about.

She strapped her scabbard onto her back absently as she wandered in the dark. She kept near the road,
using the dusty track to avoid getting lost. She could feel Kael anyway, so she wasnтАЩt worried about
going too far. Her biggest worry was going back.

Years of hurt welled up and clogged her throat. Twelve years! SheтАЩd been young when they met, only
fourteen, but sheтАЩd been positive Kael was herraynei . At the time, she couldnтАЩt have been happier. He
was tall, handsome, a gifted smith of the famous sword mages, the Heron, he was nice and sexy. And he
gave her a sense of safety. Like nothing in the world would ever hurt her so long as he was near.

So much for that fantasy.

She rubbed a spot on her chest beneath the cross strap of her scabbard. She hadnтАЩt been prepared to
see him again. Now her emotions were all over the place. She didnтАЩt know how to deal with his
presence. Especially when she had a mission. A womanтАЩs life, an oracleтАЩs life, depended on her. And like
it or not, to save the woman Rowena needed the blasted HeronтАЩs help. But how could she spend the
next few weeks of travel with him when she could barely stand to be around him for a few minutes?

She wandered until the sky lightened, too numb to do much more than walk. She came back to where
she knew he still waited and packed her gear without a word. When she started down the road, he fell
into step beside her.

тАЬYouтАЩre tired,тАЭ he murmured.

тАЬIтАЩm fine. I donтАЩt need much sleep.тАЭ

They walked in silence for a while before stopping to break their fast. From out of nowhere, Kael
produced a handful of apples and a round of cheese. She raised her eyebrows in question.

тАЬThere are advantages to being a sorcerer,тАЭ he said with a grin that made her heart hammer. тАЬFor one,
you can travel light.тАЭ

She grunted but accepted the fresh fruit and cheese. Her rations, a bundle of hard oatcakes and a last
chunk of fresh cornbread, seemed sad fare in comparison. She didnтАЩt even have any dates left. She
hunted for food along the way so she could travel light. As she took a bite of the juicy, crisp apple, she
decided KaelтАЩs method had definite advantages.

She glanced up from her next bite of fruit to see him staring. тАЬWhat?тАЭ

He didnтАЩt answer. Instead, he leaned close and wiped a drop of juice from the side of her mouth with
one long finger. Her breath hitched at the brief contact. She looked away from the heat in his gaze and
concentrated on her food.

тАЬTell me about your family?тАЭ he asked, quietly.

The question startled her. тАЬI suppose you didnтАЩt get to meet my parents last time, did you?тАЭ she said,
more to herself than to him. Her parents had been there, but by the time theyтАЩd arrivedтАж