"Shirley Meier & S. M. Stirling - Fifth Millenium 05 - Shadow's Son" - читать интересную книгу автора (Meier Shirley)

around them dark, some almost black. In the middle of the Yeoli camp, Megan thought, not with the
other mercenaries?
тАЬTeik Paymaster,тАЭ she asked, тАЬwho are they?тАЭ
тАЬA-niah.тАЭ That tells me a lot. But Peraila didnтАЩt say more.
All the Yeoli tents were the same. He came to one that had an administrative sort of look. From
several nondescript people, he chose a mouse-haired woman, conferring with her in whispers. He told
her their names, Megan heard, but didnтАЩt tell them hers; nor did she introduce herself, or say what part of
the army she was with. The sort of person the eye would miss in a crowd, unnoticeable against a blank
wall. Groups of them together give me chicken-skin on my soul, Megan thought; they looked eerily
wrong, because unlike a normal crowd, no one stood out. I donтАЩt know why IтАЩm surprised. I guess
itтАЩs because Yeolis always seem so open and above board. She reminded herself of the name their
secret service went under: Ikal.

I wonder how Peraila strips, ShkaiтАЩra thought. Jaiwun damn, traveling by horse puts Megan out
of the mood and me in ... More sword-hand marriage for me tonight.
тАЬCome inside,тАЭ the nameless woman said in perfect Enchian, with a polite smile. тАЬBut leave all your
weapons outside.тАЭ It was almost apologetic. Casting a glance at ShkaiтАЩraтАЩs: тАЬDonтАЩt worry, theyтАЩll be
well-guarded.тАЭ
тАЬHope so. I lugged them right across the Lannic.тАЭ
 тАЬTseh Lahnnic?тАЭ Peraila shot her that fast horse-merchant glance; it seemed heтАЩd be in on this
questioning.
тАЬFrom Almerkun. Other side of the big water outside the Mitvald. Big, and godsdamned wet.тАЭ
тАЬNo shit.тАЭ He seemed to believe right off; of course, he would have an easy way of finding out
whether she was telling the truth, very soon. Probably doesnтАЩt think IтАЩd lie under those circumstances
, ShkaiтАЩra thought, and heтАЩs right. тАЬYou know, tseh morrhe I know of you two, tseh morrhe interesting
you get.тАЭ
Beside the tent was a small table under a canopy, spread with white linen, that the women gestured
towards. For the weapons; Yeolis have a feel for them, ShkaiтАЩra thought, as she laid her two daggers,
sabre and wheelbow on it. Megan would take longer. Needle sword, wrist knives, back knives, boot
knives, thigh, upper-arm, belt-buckle, hair-hidden knife ... It didnтАЩt help, ShkaiтАЩra knew, that doing this
always made the Zak feel naked. Several Yeoli faces watched, bemused, increasingly amazed. Finally the
Zak completed the pile with her hair-comb.
This was a tent where no one slept, bare to the walls but for a rug, the one candle bright. The wet
sky was finally darkening, and the smell of roasting pork filled the air. Inside, two more nondescript
people came alive from a stock-still stance and left, though not before carefully arranging a pair of pillows
side by side on an open space of the mat, as Megan and ShkaiтАЩra followed Peraila and the woman in.
They all sat.
тАЬYou understand,тАЭ the woman said, тАЬthis is in sworn confidence, Second Fire come if I lie, Kahara
be witness,тАЭтАФshe clasped her crystal, the Yeoli swearing-gesture, as she rattled off the highest oath,
known in all nations, something she obviously did every dayтАФтАЬand no questions of a personal nature
unless relevant to our cause will be asked.тАЭ
тАЬI understand,тАЭ Megan said, looked to ShkaiтАЩra for her nod.
The woman opened a small box, lifted the needle in thin deft hands. тАЬIтАЩll do you both at once,тАЭ she
said, her tone like a healerтАЩs, as she filled its chamber out of a small glass vial. тАЬWhen it takes effect,
which wonтАЩt be for a while, youтАЩll have to lie down,тАЭ she said, motioning towards the pillows.
And she didnтАЩt say a word to the minions who put them there, ShkaiтАЩra thought. If they do
everything this smoothly in this army, no wonder theyтАЩre winning.
Shit. She rolled up a sleeve of her sodden shirt and presented her arm. I hate needles. The womanтАЩs
touch was soft, cool and gentle, the liquid she touched to the inside of the crook of the elbow with a bit
of lint was cold; no surprise, she found the vein on the first try, firmly sliding the point in. It didnтАЩt hurt, but