"Kate Novak & Jeff Grubb - Lost Gods 3 - Tymora's Luck" - читать интересную книгу автора (Novak Kate)

"Joel, you're too nice. Your friendship has made you blind to what I am," Jas declared.
"Look at me . . . No, don't look away. Really look at me. I have black down and feathers all over my
flesh and a crest of green feathers sticking out of my forehead. If I don't stay calm, my eyes glow
like an owl's. Yesterday some snotty Taker tried to tax me twice in one hour, and I got so angry that
one of my hands changed into a claw again. If that Taker hadn't been spry, he'd be missing an eye
instead of just the tip of his nose. I'm more animal than human now. If I go back to Toril, there isn't
anyone who's going to welcome me, except of course all those priests of Iyachtu Xvim."
Joel took a sip of his ale, debating whether he should continue arguing with the woman. The
priests of the evil god Iyachtu Xvim had transformed Jas with a curse, trying to make her a dark
stalkerтАФa hunter they could use for their own foul purposes. Jas had managed to fight the
transformation and retain part of her humanity, a testament to her willpower. If she were to kill
someone, however, Jas would transform completely and forever into a creature of evil. There was a
way for her to overcome the curse, however.
"Finder said he would try to help you," Joel said, reminding the older woman that his god
had offered her his assistance. "All you have to do is ask. I've found a portal from Sigil to his realm
in the outer planes. We can go there now if you want."
Jas shook her head vehemently. "I'm going to handle this myself. I don't want any god's
help."
"Jas, you're being ridiculous about this," Joel said. "Give me one good reason why you won't
come with me."
"I don't have to give you any reasons," Jas retorted. "This is my business. Why don't you just
let me be?" The whites of her eyes and her dark brown irises began glowing green.
"You don't mean that," Joel argued.
"Damned if I don't," Jas snarled.
"Damned if you do," Joel whispered softly.
The winged woman glared at Joel for a moment, then whirled about and grabbed at
something behind her chair. Something yelped behind her. With a sharp yank, she pulled the
something forward, depositing it on the table in front of her with a unceremonious thunk.
The something was a small man with pointed ears and a topknot of very long brown hair.
Over his indigo homespun trousers and shirt, he wore a scarlet vest covered with pockets and an
orange cloak over that. He was holding a crystal paperweight full of some dark liquid, in which
floated a thousand glittering specks. Joel recognized the paperweight. Holly had bought it for Jas as
a gift to help remind the winged woman of the stars, which couldn't be seen in Sigil. Joel didn't
recognize the small man. He guessed that he was some sort of halfling who'd just picked Jas's cloak
pocket.
"You lousy little halfling thief!" Jas hissed. She had both her hands about the creature's
throat.
Joel gasped, alarmed by the sudden transformation of Jas's hands into the talons of a bird of
prey. Her claws were piercing the thief's flesh. Blood was trickling down his neck.
"Ow! Careful with those claws," the creature squeaked.
Joel put his hands about the winged woman's wrists and managed to pull one talon away
from her prey. The little creature tried to pull away, but Jas caught a clasp of his vest with the claws
of the other talon, and he was stuck fast.
"You're mistaken, lassie," Jas's captive said with an offended air. "I'm not a halfling thief."
"Halfling, tiefling, leprechaunтАФI don't care," Jas said. "It won't matter once I've put you in
the dead book."
"Render, lass. I'm a kender," the creature said proudly. "I don't think I'd fit in a book, not
even a great mage's tome, though once when I was a child I managed to crawl into a magic pouch.
Magic is tricky, though, you know, and I couldn't find my way back out. My parents searched for
me for hours. Finally I kicked my way out. Tore a huge hole in the back, ruined it. The man who