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

тАЬHardly,тАЭ the guide retorted scornfully. тАЬWeтАЩre too big a group and wolves, savage as they are, are not
stupid.тАЭ

тАЬWell,тАЭ Ox replied, laughing at his own joke, тАЬyouтАЩd better tell the mules that. I donтАЩt think they
understand.тАЭ
Sir Jared Surcliffe, a lesser member of Earl KestrelтАЩs own family, but prouder of his recently acquired
nickname тАЬDocтАЭ than of any trace of noble blood, crossed to claim the general provisions bundle. Like
the earl he had black hair and clear, grey eyes, but his height and build lacked the earlтАЩs seeming
delicacy. There was strength in his long-fingered handsтАФas Derian had learned when Jared stitched a cut
in his forearm a couple of weeks back. Derian recalled that Doc had won honors in battle, so he must
have other strengths as well.

тАЬValet has the fire started,тАЭ Jared said, an upper-class accent giving his simple statement unwonted
authority. тАЬIтАЩll start dinner. Race, shouldnтАЩt you see if there might be a fish or two in yonder brook? Earl
Kestrel would enjoy fresh trout with his dinner.тАЭ

Had anyone but Jared or the earl himself even hinted at giving the guide orders, he might have found
himself standing a late-night watch on an anthill. Race Forester, though, for all his pride in his skills, knew
when he couldтАФand could notтАФpush his social betters.

тАЬRight,тАЭ he grunted, and departed, whistling for Queenie, his bird dog. The red-spotted hound reluctantly
abandoned the station near the fire from which sheтАЩd been watching Earl KestrelтАЩs man unpack the
delicacies kept for the earlтАЩs own consumption.

When the wolf howled again, Derian wondered how much of QueenieтАЩs reluctance was due to leaving
the food and how much to the proximity of the big predator.

тАЬThey say that the wolves in the mountains are bigger than anything found in settled lands,тАЭ Derian said,
talking to distract himself and feeling freer to speculate now that Race was gone.

тАЬThey do,тАЭ Doc agreed, тАЬbut IтАЩve always wondered, just who has seen these giant wolves? Few people
have gone beyond the foothills of the Iron MountainsтАФthose mostly miners and trappers. As far as I
know, the only ones to have crossed the range are Prince Barden and those who went with him.тАЭ

Derian finished currying Roanne and moved to the earlтАЩs Coal before answering.

тАЬMaybe in the early days,тАЭ he hazarded, тАЬwhen the colonies were new. Maybe people saw the wolves
then.тАЭ

тАЬPossibly,тАЭ Jared said agreeably, shaping a journey cake on its board. тАЬAnd possibly itтАЩs all
grandmotherтАЩs fire stories. Race is right. Wolves and other night creatures do sound bigger when youтАЩre
camping.тАЭ

Conversation lagged as the members of the expedition hurried to complete their chores before the last of
the late-spring light faded. Part of the reason Earl Kestrel had planned his journey for this time of year
was that the days would be growing longer, but after hours spent riding on muddy trails, the evenings
seemed brief enough.

Cool, too, Derian thought, blowing on his fingers as he measured grain for the mules and horses. Winter
may be gone, but sheтАЩs not letting us forget her just yet.