"Jane Lindskold - Firekeeper Saga 1 - Through Wolf's Eyes" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lindskold Jane)

Although Derian had no desire to seem less willing than any of the rest, he was grateful beyond words
when, after a meal of journey cake and hard cheese followed by a withered apple for dessert, Jared
Surcliffe ordered Derian to remove his boots.

тАЬAs you wish, Doc,тАЭ Derian agreed, тАЬbut who will do the cleaning up?тАЭ

тАЬRace can handle it,тАЭ Jared replied bluntly. тАЬIтАЩve watched you limping from midday on. HeтАЩs more
accustomed to tromping about over rough ground.тАЭ

Race, complimented, accepted the menial chore without protest. тАЬI wanted to set some fish traps in any
case,тАЭ he said, gathering up the pots and cups.

The lonely howl of a wolf, answered by a fainter, second cry, silenced for a moment the singing of the
night peepers and shriller chirps of the insects. The humans froze in visceral, instinctive fear.

тАЬTake Ox with you,тАЭ the earl commanded.

Race nodded and the two men departed.

тАЬThink theyтАЩll be all right, Doc?тАЭ Derian asked nervously as Jared helped him off with his boots.

тАЬIтАЩm more worried about your feet than I am about wolves,тАЭ the other man replied. тАЬRace and Ox are
big men. The wolves should find much easier hunting this time of year.тАЭ

тАЬThe horses donтАЩt like all that howling much,тАЭ Derian said, talking to keep his mind off the sting of hot
water on his feet. тАЬBut that just makes sense. Wolves probably see the horses as an easy dinner.тАЭ

тАЬThatтАЩs something to remember,тАЭ Doc agreed. тАЬWhoeverтАЩs on watch should keep a close eye on horses
and mules alike.тАЭ

A few minutes later, he lifted DerianтАЩs feet from the water, inspected them, then smeared some ointment
on the blisters.

тАЬWeтАЩll probably stay in this camp until we locate Prince Barden,тАЭ Doc said. тАЬIтАЩm going to suggest to Earl
Kestrel that you take camp watch so you can wear soft shoes and let these blisters heal.тАЭ

тАЬThanks,тАЭ Derian said, not bothering to mask his relief.

тАЬMy pleasure.тАЭ Doc grinned. тАЬI had the privilege of staying on horseback most of the day rather than
picking along the ground dragging a string of mules. You and Ox took most of the punishment there.тАЭ

тАЬOx seems fine,тАЭ Derian commented enviously.

тАЬHeтАЩs an old campaigner and knows how to pamper his feet,тАЭ Doc replied. тАЬYou should consult him
before we continue.тАЭ

тАЬI will.тАЭ

They sat in companionable silence for a long moment.