"Lackey, Mercedes - Arrow's Flight" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lackey Mercedes)

But she managedЧto find a true home among the Heralds, and to civilize the Brat. Now the year-and-a-half of Field duty awaited herЧand a trial she never dreamed of having to pass.

One

Thwack!

The flat of Alberich's practice-blade cracked against Talia's ill-guarded side. She hadn't seen the blow coming, she truly hadn't. That had hurt, and she would lay money on having a bruise despite the padded jerkin that had absorbed most of the blow. The practice blades may have only been wood, but Alberich tended to wield them{all the harder for that.

"Faugh!" he spat in disgust, and came at her again before she had recovered from the last blow. This time he connected with her knife-arm, right at the elbow. She yelped, the arm went numb, and she lost her blade entirely.

The hawklike eyes glared at her with no trace of pity, and the scar-seamed face was a demonic mask as he passed judgment on her performance.

He was at least in his mid-forties, if not older, but he hadn't lost a fraction of his edge or agility in the five years Talia had known him. She was panting with exertionЧhe might as well have been taking a leisurely stroll. His well-worn, dark leathers (he was the only working Herald in Talia's experience who never wore Whites) showed not so much as a tiny sweat stain. The afternoon sun pouring down on all

12

/ARROW'S FLIGHT

13

of them had made him look as thin and insubstantial as a shadow. And he had been just as hard to catch.

"A pity it is that Skif is not here to see you. Die of lau^mer he surely would!" he growled. "Eighteen you areЧone would think you eight. Slow, clumsy, and stupid! Paugh! Had I been a real assassinЧ"

"I would have died of fright before you touched me."

"Now it is jokes! This is a battle-practiceЧnot a comedy. If I wish amusement, I shall find a jester. Once againЧand correctly, this time."

Once she was ready to drop with exhaustion, he turned his attention to Elspeth. Now that both of them deserved special tutelage he had changed the hour of their lessons to one shared by no one else, so that he could give his full devotion to the Queen's Own and Heir-presumptive. Rather than being held on the training grounds outside, the two had their drills in the salle. This was a barn-like building with a sanded wooden floor, lined with mirrors, with high derestory windows to admit the maximum amount of light. Lessons were always held here during inclement weather, but it was too small for mass practices and classes for the combined Heraldic-Bardic-Healer's Collegium students. Only those "privileged" to receive private lessons with Alberich took those lessons habitually in the salle.

Now that his attention was off her, Talia found her thoughts drifting back to her surprise of this afternoon.

Talia tugged and wriggled impatiently until she had succeeded in getting the supple, soft, white leather tunic over her head. Pulling it into place over the White raime shirt and leather breeches, she finally turned to admire the effect in the polished metal mirror in front of her.

"Havens!" she laughed, not a little surprised, "Why don't the Grays ever look like this?"

14

MERCEDES LACKEY

"Because," a harsh voice drawled from the next room, "You youngsters would have your minds on anything but your studies if they did!"

Talia laughed, turned back to the mirror, and preened. Today was the anniversary of her first class at Herald's CollegiumЧa fact that she'd forgotten until Keren and Sherrill (senior Heralds both, and instructors at the Collegium as well as Talia's longtime friends) arrived at her room with their arms full of white uniforms and wearing broad grins.

For the Heraldic Circle had consideredЧfor less than five minutes, all toldЧhad votedЧand had passed Talia into full Herald status with the rest of her year-matesЧno surprise to anyone in the Collegium, though by tradition the trainees were not to know when they were to be evaluated until the evaluation had already been made and they had passed.

Keren and Sherrill had claimed the right to give her the good news.

They didn't even give her a chance to think, eitherЧ just appeared at her door, swept her up one on either side, and herded her down the long, dark wood-paneled hall of the Collegium dormitory, down the stairs to the first floor, and out the double doors