"L. E. Modesitt - Corean Chronicles 5 - Cadmians Choice" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

[Techyl]




The young choose once, choose twice, even thrice, and never ever seek or ask
advice. The older wiser landers ask a friend, someone wise, but never seem to
do as he'd advise.
So choose as if an unwise choice would kill, because, when one expects it
least, it will.
1
Mykel leaned forward on the ancient chair In the officers' mess, finishing
rubbery egg toast a good glass before morning muster, thinking about how much
more training his battalion needed, and debating whether he should extend the
mounted unit maneuvers practice another week. Another ten days might help, if
he canceled end-day passes. He shook his head. That would be too hard on both
mounts and morale. He'd known that rebuilding Third Bat┬-talion would be
difficult and take time, but he had his doubts about whether he'd be allowed
that time.
Captain Vield walked through the doors to the mess and straight toward Mykel.
Mykel offered a pleasant smile, although he distrusted the purposeful stride
of the captain, not personally, but because Vield was the colonel's adjutant.
The captain's aura was a golden brown that suggested a background in the
Lanachronan fanning district. Mykel silently warned himself, far from the
first time, not to comment on what the aura revealed. He kept reminding
himself because his growing sense of the depth of life and its ties to the
land was so new, and he had yet to get adjusted to itт"or to know truly its
extent. He'd always had an extraordinarily good sense of aim with a rifle, but
the seeing of auras was all too recent. From what he'd overheard, that sort of
tal┬-ent was something like what the alectors were supposed to have, and the
last thing he needed was to have an alec-tor examining his abilities, not that
anyone had ever suggested that. Still... he had the feeling that concealing
the ability was for the best, especially where alectors were concerned.
"Majer, sir?"
"Yes, Captain?"
"Colonel Herolt would like a moment of your time be┬-fore muster, sir. At your
earliest convenience."
"I was just finishing, Captain." Mykel stood, glancing around the mess. The
plastered walls had once been white, but time and decades of food preparation
had turned them a light beige. Even the yearly whitewash succumbed to the
underlying beige within a few weeks.
The only officer in the mess from Third Battalion was Captain Culeyt, and he
was eating with one of his former comradesт"an undercaptain from Fourth
Battalion. Rhystan had not eaten yet, nor had any of Mykel's undercaptains.
Mykel could sense Vield's eyes following him as he left the mess. Since the
campaign in Dramur, Mykel had been far more aware of others' feelings about
himт"or their scrutinyт"as a result of the life-sensing that was a
complement to his vision and not restricted to where his eyes focused. He
crossed the stone-paved courtyard in the light before dawn, making his way to
the regimental headquarters building.