"Mercedes Lackey - Brightly Burning" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lackey Mercedes)

IтАЩd like to see Tyron explain himself then! he thought vengefully. It would be painfully clear just
who was bullying whom, given LanтАЩs stature and TyronтАЩs-and that was something that could not be
explained away. If Tyron claimed he was administering punishment on the orders of the Schoolmaster,
there would be inquiries. A Justice might not take kindly to the notion of the Master of this school
permitting the Sixth Form to adjudicate and administer all punishments.
But that was too much to hope for. Quickly, he stifled any rising elation and visions of revenge
(or at least justice) at the hands of the Guard.
It would be enough merely to vanish from the minds and memories of the Sixth Form. Let them
think his illness still kept him at home.
So when the rest of the class left the classroom, he remained behind, as usual. He took one of the
desks in the back of the room, nearest the inside wall, so that if anyone glanced inside they wouldnтАЩt see
him, just in case one or another of the teachers looked in. There he applied himself to his book with
determination, if not enthusiasm, until the light had faded so much that the words danced in front of his
eyes.
Only then did he slowly and cautiously rise and make his way to the window, peeking out
carefully, to see if anyone was still waiting for stragglers.
The yard was empty; so was the street outside. Already the lamplighters had finished one side of
the street and were working their way up the opposite side. It was very late; heтАЩd have to run if he didnтАЩt
want to be too late for supper.
He gathered his books and flew down the stairs and out into the gathering room. For the first
time in a very long time, his heart felt as light as his feet.
FIVE
STRETCHING aching muscles, Herald Pol pulled the blue-leather saddle off of SatiranтАЩs
muscular back and regarded his Companion Satiran with a lifted brow. тАЬDid you have to take that
obstacle course quite so fast?тАЭ he asked the pearly ears tilted back to catch his words.
:YouтАЩre getting soft,: Satiran replied, with a complacent swish of his silvery tail. :All you ever
do is stand around classrooms. ItтАЩs my duty to keep you fit.:
Pol heaved the saddle up onto the rail of SatiranтАЩs open stall with a grunt. тАЬIf you keep wrenching
my shoulders and legs out of their sockets, IтАЩm not likely to agree to run the obstacle course anymore,
and then how do you accomplish your so-called duty, eh?тАЭ
Satiran turned his head on his long neck and looked straight into PolтАЩs face with his lambent blue
eyes, then bared his teeth in a mock snarl. :I could chase you all around the Collegium. IтАЩd not only
keep you fit that way, IтАЩd amuse the children.:
тАЬYou would do that, wouldnтАЩt you?тАЭ Pol sighed, removing the blue wool blanket and draping it
next to the saddle. тАЬIs that fair?тАЭ
:You want them to retire you?: Satiran countered, shaking his head vigorously. :YouтАЩre fifty
this month, and your hair is as silver as Herald VanyelтАЩs. If you donтАЩt keep proving how fit you
are, theyтАЩll force you to stay at the Collegium, and youтАЩll die of boredom.:
тАЬDonтАЩt you mean youтАЩll die of boredom?тАЭ Pol asked, but knew better than to wait for an answer.
Satiran was never happier than when they were out in the field; the Companion seemed to thrive on bad
weather and rough forage. He wasnтАЩt even damp after that rather enthusiastic round of the obstacle
course, and Pol was dripping with sweat. тАЬWhy did I ever get Chosen by such a hearty soul?тАЭ he asked,
eyes turned upward so that it seemed he addressed the roof of the CompanionsтАЩ stables.
But it wasnтАЩt the roof that answered.
:Because someone had to keep you fit,: Satiran replied, then produced a whinny that was
entirely like a snicker. Lifting his silver hooves precisely, even daintily, he backed out of the stall, then
turned and trotted off to CompanionтАЩs Field where he dropped to the grass and rolled enthusiastically in
the sun, just like any common horse.
Pol laughed in spite of aching shoulders and calves, stretched again, and headed for his quarters
in the opposite direction, boots ringing solidly on the wooden floor of the stables. He wasnтАЩt going to be