"Naomi Kritzer - Dead Rivers 3 - Freedom's Sisters" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kritzer Naomi)

see the rest of the women from JaniyaтАЩs sisterhoodтАФMaydan, Gulim, Zhanna. MaydanтАЩs face lit with a warm
smile. She leaned on a stick to help her walk. Erdene let me hold her new baby. Her daughterтАЩs downy hair was
the color of a chickтАЩs feathers, clearly the gift of the trader whoтАЩd fathered the baby. Then Meruert spotted me
and I went to see her and Jaran and the others whoтАЩd escaped from SophosтАЩs household, lone blue beads hanging
on cords around their necks. Jaran looked at me nervouslyтАФheтАЩd fled north to the steppe after selling Lauria to
the mine, certain IтАЩd have his head if I caught up with him. IтАЩd forgiven Lauria for going behind my back, though,
so I couldnтАЩt really hold a grudge against Jaran. Much.

Zhanna had met us on the steppe and warned Lauria to flee. Now she poured me kumiss and told me to sit by her
side. I had been ZhannaтАЩs apprentice during my summer with the sword sisterhood, but now she met my eyes like
an equal. тАЬI felt so proud when I heard what youтАЩd done,тАЭ she whispered.

тАЬBut you were the one who told me that the Alashi didnтАЩt free slaves,тАЭ I said.

тАЬI never said I agreed with that rule.тАЭ Zhanna gazed for a long moment into my eyes, and I saw humor and the
spark of something else. I looked down quickly. She sighed and stroked my back gently. тАЬYou are no longer my
apprentice,тАЭ she said. тАЬYouтАЩre a full-fledged shaman, though I think you know that.тАЭ

I nodded.

тАЬAnd you are fully Alashi now, as well. So there are rules that donтАЩt apply anymore.тАЭ


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 FreedomтАЩsSisters


What was she talking about? I lifted my head to look at her again. She gave me a level gaze and a hint of a smile.
And I realized that she was inviting me toтАФI choked a little on my kumiss and put it down. I had no idea how to
politely refuse. I had spent years not being allowed to refuse, but nowтАФnowтАФ

тАЬExcuse me,тАЭ I said, and stood up. тАЬI need toтАФтАЭ My mind went blank for a moment, and I almost bolted in
panic. тАЬI need to relieve myself. IтАЩll be back soon.тАЭ

Zhanna sought me out, later, on the other side of the encampment. тАЬDonтАЩt worry,тАЭ she said, and I could see
sympathy in her face. тАЬIтАЩm sorry. I didnтАЩt mean to scare you away. I justтАФwell, IтАЩm sorry.тАЭ

тАЬThereтАЩs nothing to apologize for,тАЭ I said. I wanted to pretend nothing happened.

тАЬDo you want to come sit with us again? Just for companionship. I promise.тАЭ

тАЬThat would be nice,тАЭ I said, and followed her back to the others.

In the late-night firelight, I could see that many others had paired off. Some reunited with summer friends. Others
enjoyed a last night with their lover from the winter. Zhanna hadnтАЩt sought out anyone else, though I doubted
sheтАЩd have had trouble finding company. I looked down at my kumiss and wondered what it would be like to
spend an evening with someone IтАЩd chosen. Someone I liked.

When I joined the Alashi, the eldress said they would teach me to live as a free person. But when it came to this,
SophosтАЩs hands still gripped me tightly. I shivered in the cold night wind, and wished Lauria were here.