"Recluce - 07 - The Chaos Balance" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

completely melted. For the first time since last fall, Nylan could hear
bird calls, even the raucous comments of the loud-mouthed traitor bird.
аа - Both the smith and the healer wore the twin black steel alloyed
blades, and in the combined quiver/case behind Nylan's saddle was one of
the composite bows he had created with the last energy from the laser,
and more than a dozen shafts sporting the black iron arrowheads he had
forged. The smith hoped that he wouldn't have to use the weapons.
аа "It's muddier this year," observed Ayrlyn as a glob of mud flicked by
Nylan's mount struck her trousers just above her riding boots.
аа "We had more snow, and it melted later. The snow lilies are just
poking through the crust now."
аа "I wondered about that."
аа "So did I. I suppose our plantings will be later, too."
аа "The big red deer have only started into the higher forests. Which
winter is more typical?"
аа "This one." Nylan laughed. "It's a good thing the first winter was
mild."
аа "I'd never call that mild. With ice coating all the inside walls of
the tower? Mild?"
аа "We didn't have enough firewood. Or windows. The shutters just
couldn't keep out the wind."
аа "Or blankets. Or food." Ayrlyn shifted her weight in the saddle.
"Look! Tracks." She pointed to the sets of prints in the shaded expanse
of snow under the firs to the right of the trail.
аа "A big snow cat, but they're melted out a bit. Yesterday or the day
before, I'd guess. Istril keeps hoping that I'll be able to kill another
one, or two so that Weryl can have a parka." The smith laughed. "The
first one almost got me, and the second wasn't much better."
аа "Their coats are warm-and soft."
аа "They also have claws as long as a dagger and sharper."
аа "Like Ryba," offered Ayrlyn.
аа "I'd bet on her against the cat, bare-handed, even."
аа "And take odds," added the healer.
аа They both laughed, and the sound echoed briefly, then vanished into
the tall firs and pines that lined the rough road.
аа After they eased the mares through yet another deeper and slushy
snowdrift, a narrow canyon appeared to the left, like a gash in the cliff
that supported the Roof of the World. The two eased their mounts up the
narrow road, widened the year before to allow a cart passage, until they
reached a natural clearing where the brook curved around the exposed clay
bank. Behind that was a low building.
аа "There you are-the fabled brickworks." Ayrlyn leaned over from the
saddle and studied the road and the interspersed patches of snow. "I
don't see anything but animal tracks. Hares, deer, and an old snow cat
print, I think."
аа "Be surprised if the locals were this high this early, but you never
know." Nylan urged the mare over the rushing rivulet toward the small
shuttered brick building and the two loaf-shaped outdoor ovens that
comprised the brickworks. The clay pit to the right and downslope of the
ovens was filled with water and chunks of ice.