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

"You intended to go?"
аа "I thought I might be useful. We also could use another anvil and some
hammers, if you'd like us to make better progress in training Ydrall."
аа "I'll have the mare waiting for you. Saryn's bringing down mounts from
the stable," Ryba said. "You are getting your blades? Traders around here
aren't always the most peaceful."
аа "They're laid out," the smith confirmed, biting back a retort. He'd
been there the last time Skiodra had tried his treachery. So why had Ryba
brought it up? Another attempt to put him in his place? Or what Ryba
thought was his place?
аа He hurried up the steps to his quarters where he strapped on both
blades, one at his waist and one in the shoulder harness. He descended
more carefully, still cautious about tripping over the scabbard and going
down the stone steps headfirst. Except for meeting traders and possible
battles, he didn't carry a blade. They just got in the way.
аа Everyone was waiting by the causeway by the time he hurried across the
stones.
аа Ayrlyn held the reins to the brown mare and extended them to him. "We
just got here."
аа "Let's go," said Ryba.
аа A chill wind blew across the ridge, coming in from the northeast, as
they followed the stone road up toward the watchtower. Farther behind
creaked the cart pulled by a single horse. The cart horse was led by
Effama, another new guard Nylan knew only by name. "Which traders?" asked
the Marshal. "Skiodra's bunch, it looks like," answered Saryn. "Good
thing we've got a full squad."
аа "That's why we do," affirmed Saryn. "They've all got the engineer's
bows." She stood in the stirrups as they reached the top of the ridge and
looked downslope. "They're set up to trade all right."
аа Nylan and Ayrlyn rode side-by-side behind Ryba and Saryn down the damp
clay track on the north side of the ridge, a track that should be turned
into a metaled road, Nylan reflected. He smiled ironically as he
recognized the way he'd thought of the need-not as something he had to
do, but something that needed doing. Was he accepting emotionally, not
just rationally, the truth.of what Ayrlyn had been telling him?
аа "That's an odd smile," the redheaded healer said.
а а"I'll tell you later," he whispered back, hoping his words were lost
in the hissing of the wind and the clop of hoofs ... and the more distant
creaking of the cart carrying the swords that would be used as trading
currency.
аа At that, recalling another trading incident, he extended his order
senses to the trees that flanked the base of the ridge, but could detect
no hidden armsmen or archers.
аа "Nothing in the trees," he reported.
аа "Good" .was the only answer from Ryba. Saryn nodded, as if his report
were expected.
аа The traders, dressed in half-open quilted jackets and cloaks, had
halted to the north of the trading banner they had planted in the flat
and damp ground at the foot of the ridge. Seven traders stood, hands very
clear of their blades, behind the banner, with ten others farther west,