"Kate Novak - Finders Stone 1 - Azure Bonds" - читать интересную книгу автора (Novak Kate)

of its ruler struck a responsive chord. Is he a friend? An enemy? Why can't I
remember things?
"Last question, wise barkeep," she said, holding up another silver orb, "and I
will let you go." She turned the hand holding the coin to reveal the inside of
her arm and its bright tattoo. "Did I have this when I arrived?"
"Aye, lady," said the barkeep. "It wuz there when we found you. Mitcher said
the
Witches of Rashemen wear such tattoos, but a Turmishman said he wuz full of
bee
droppings. There wuz some mutterings, but I put my foot down and, as you see,
the sky hasn't fallen on my inn. I considered you a good omen, at that."
"Why?"
"The name of this house. The Hidden Lady."
Alias nodded. Taking this as a dismissal, the barkeep scurried back to his
bar,
rattling the orbs in his hand as he went.
Alias reviewed what the barkeep had told her. It makes sense, she thought.
Adventurers have been known to dump off drunken companions, leaving a tattoo
as
a reminder. But why these symbols? They mean nothing to me.
Alias gulped a mouthful of ale, then fought the urge to spit it across the
table. The brew tasted like fermented swill. She forced herself to swallow it,
wondering if the wretched taste of the beer had been why her unknown
benefactors
had left her outside and not entered the establishment,
"I hate mysteries," she muttered with annoyance. She toyed with the idea of
pitching the nearly full mug at the barkeep, accusing him of poisoning the
clientele. When in doubt, she thought, start a brawl.
She pushed the beer away, her attention diverted. The barkeep was talking to a
tall man wearing robes of crimson highlighted with thin white stripes and an
ivory white cloak with red trim. The barkeep motioned a pudgy hand toward
Alias's table, and the man turned to look at her.
His skin was dusky and his hair a curly brown mane banded with gold cords,
hung
to his shoulders. He had a moustache, and his beard was cut straight across at
the bottom like a coal shovel. His eyes were blue. On his forehead were
tattooed
three blue dots, and a sapphire was embedded in his left earlobe. Alias
recognized him as a southerner and knew the dots marked him as a Turmish
scholar
of religion, reading, and magic. The earring meant he was married. But she did
not recognize the man himself.
Nevertheless, he made his way from the bar to her table. Alias rose as he
approachedтАФnot from politeness, but to give herself the chance to size him up.
He stood several inches taller than AliasтАФand she was taller than most women
and
many other men. Beneath his soft, flowing robes, the man had a reasonably
sturdy
frame. However his muscles did not appear to be trained for battle or
hardship,