"Jean Lorrah - Savage Empire 05 - Sorcerers of the Frozen Isles" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lorrah Jean)

"Oh, my lord!" Bevan's wife knelt beside Wulfs-ton, sobbing. "I thought sure he was dead, my lord! How
can we ever repay you?"

"No need," Wulfston replied. "It is my duty to keep my people healthyтАФI'm just glad I was nearby.
However, if you can provide me with something to eatтАФ?"

"Wulfston!" Torio warned suddenly. "Someone's coming!" And to the woman he ordered, "Run! Get into
the house!"

As Bevan's wife fled clumsily down the path, around the side of the hill came armed riders in the ragtag
garb of hill bandits. They ignored the fleeing woman, charging directly for Wulfston and Torio.

There were a dozen men, enough to make an Adept waste his powers until he made himself
helplessтАФprovided they knew exactly how to trick him into doing so.

And it appeared that they knew what they were doing, for despite his tiredness after moving the quarried
stone, Wulfston sent a sheet of flame roaring up out of the ground before their horses. The animals
screamed and reared, but in moments the riders had them under control and were charging once more
toward the two men, cutting off their chance of escape down the path.

Wulfston did not kill indiscriminately; Torio knew he meant to frighten the attackers off, but he hadn't
succeeded.

"WulfstonтАФsave your strength!" said Torio, grasping the Adept by the arm and hauling him behind the
rock as the bandits drew close enough to shoot arrows from short bows. They clattered off the rock, but
the men kept coming, those without bows now drawing throwing knives.

And below them on the slope, four other bandits rode toward the quarriers' house with torches. In
moments the thatch roof was ablaze.

From their position, Wulfston could see what was happening below. Instantly, his responsibility for his
people asserted itself, and he concentrated on putting out the blazeтАФagain working against nature, for
once that dry straw had begun to flame, it would have gone up instantly without Adept powers to stem it.

"Wulfston, they're dividing your attention!" Torio warned. "Put those men down there to sleep!"

That the Adept had the power to do, but Torio could Read him clutching the granite block for support,
and feared that the dozen men drawing in for the kill might be too many for Wulfston to handle. The
young Reader drew his sword, prepared to defend Wulfston and himself to the extent of his strength and
skill.

The huge stone blocked the path, so that the attackers could get through only on one side. Three men
jumped off their horses and started around. The first one ran straight into Torio's sword, for the Reader
could tell every move he planned and be ready for him.

At their companion's death cry, the other two charged forward together.

Torio was a skilled swordsmanтАФand, thank the gods, these two were not. He used the advantage of his
sightless eyes, letting them drift unfocused, unnerving his opponents as they realized they were battling a