"Jane Lindskold - Firekeeper Saga 4 - Wolf Captured" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lindskold Jane)

and Blind Seer, so if she was to be involved, the fewer pack animals they used the better. Derian had
access to a handful of horses and mules that had learned to tolerate the wolves, and after very little
discussion had convinced the king to let them travel alone.

Derian suspected that Tedric had been easily convinced because the two of them arriving without fuss
could more easily inspectтАФ"spy upon" was a more honest termтАФthe garrison before the garrison put on
its best manners for the counselor of the king.

Derian felt a guarded flicker of hope.

"Firekeeper, we may be missed. True, we'd already said our good-byes, but there's Roanne and my
pack horse, my camping gear, too. I left them west of Eagle's Nest."

Usually, he would have stabled at his parents' facilities, but Prancing Steed Stables was filled to
overflowing. Its buildings were mostly grouped to the east of the city, and Derian hadn't wanted to guide
Roanne and the pack horse through the streets that would be crowded with departing festivalgoers the
next morning.

Far easier to move them the day before, taking them to a farm owned by friends of the Carter family who
were more than happy to offer space in a back pasture.

"I forget this," Firekeeper said, and Derian was absurdly pleased to hear relief in her voice. "Then
someone see we not take them and ask questions. Did any see you leave dancing?"

Derian shook his head, regretted the motion, and massaged his temples as he answered.

"Lots of people, but no one in particular. There was a young womanтАж "

Firekeeper snorted again, the soft gust mingled exasperation and amusement. She seemed immune to
sexual impulses, even though regular nourishment had filled her once slat-sided figure into small rounded
breasts and gently curving hips. It wasn't a matter Derian felt comfortable discussing with anyone. He
grew pink even thinking about it.

Doc, Earl Kestrel's cousin, was less shyтАФat least where Firekeeper was concernedтАФand had once
commented that prolonged starvation might have slowed Firekeeper's development. Sometimes, though,
Derian wondered if there was something more involved, if Firekeeper really didn't think of herself as
human and so human sexual impulsesтАФand the things they led humans to doтАФreally were alien to her.

Certainly, while the wolf-woman understood perfectly well why his mention of a young woman meant
that Derian hadn't been anxious to draw attention to his departure, Firekeeper did not understand at all
why he should be so eager to be alone with that same young woman.

Firekeeper snorted again, more laughter in the sound this time.

"You not the only one who want to be alone together," she said. "There were many leaving the dancing
with that scent about them. But this not help us, only tell us that if there is help, we must make it."

Derian couldn't but agree.