"Mel Odom - Forgotten Realms - Lost Empires 01 - The Lost Library of Cormanthyr" - читать интересную книгу автора (Odom Mel)

mages."
Verys popped his flags at his team.
Almost immediately, Skyreach could feel the mystic forces that sparked around her. She was very
sensitive to any actions con-ducted through the Arts, even had some of the talent herself and had a modest
list of spells she could perform. Besides the sword, she'd been schooled in spellcraft as well, learning of it
even if not possessing the means.
 She swung her sword once more and saw the reinforced rope's last remaining strands part. The
grappling hook spilled into the churning sea.
"Verys, signal the axemen to follow me," she said as she started forward toward the prow of the ship.
Nearly a dozen axemen trailed after her before she'd gone ten paces. They looked ques-tioningly at her as
she turned to face them.
"Free the prow," she ordered, pointing at the grappling hooks holding fast the ship's nose. "Free the prow
and maybe we can yank away from the pirates."
The axemen fell to at once, hacking with enthusiasm inspired by desperation.
Skyreach looked back at the cargo ship's bow. Captain Rinnah stood at the great wheel, his shoulders
hunkered against it to show the strain he was physically under while manhandling his vessel. "Verys, send a
runner back to the captain. Let him know we're trying to free the prow."
Verys signaled quickly.
Skyreach didn't check to see the effect. Gazing across the harsh spume of the sea trapped between the
two ships, she saw a group of pirates reacting to her own attempt to hack the forward grappling lines free.
Archers fell into position, covered by shield carriers. Arrows descended like carrion birds, ripping into the
unprotected flesh of the axemen.
One of the axemen went down at Skyreach's side, a cloth yard shaft through his neck. The elven
warrior didn't hesitate, sheath-ing her sword and taking up the double-headed axe from the man drowning in
his own blood. She stepped forward, dropping the weapon over her shoulder, then swinging it over her head
and down. The blade cleaved cleanly through the grappling line, thunking solidly into the wooden railing. She
ripped the axe free and moved toward the next grappling line. When she'd sheared it as well, only two
remained. They were both cut before she freed the axe again.
"Milady!"
Skyreach started to turn, but Verys collided into her, knocking her to the side. She reached for the man,
believing he had only lost his balance. Then she heard the meaty smack of flesh being struck. The barbed
point of an arrow sliced into the elven war-rior's shoulder.
But it came through her signalman to reach her. He'd sacri-ficed himself to save her.
"Verys!" Skyreach held the old man to her, knowing the arrow's barb offered her no real threat and only
a small discomfort. At the same time, it was taking Verys's life.
"Milady," the old man gasped, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth, "it was the least I could do.
Your great-grandfather was my frтАФ" His eyes rolled up into his head as his body relaxed.
Two other arrows sank deep into the old man's corpse before Skyreach could take them to safety.
Reluctantly, she laid Verys beside the railing. Water sluiced around him. She forced herself to her feet and
looked back into the bow. "Rinnah!" she screamed, though she knew it was futile. The captain would never
hear her over the thunder of the storm, the yelling of the men, and the sound of the dying.
Still, across the distance, the captain's eyes met hers, his gaze dark and seething despite the frenzy of
cold rain between them. Rinnah bawled orders to his crew. The lines of sail changed. The big man hauled
hard on the wheel, controlling the tiller.
Chalice of the Crowns came about slowly, fighting time and tide and ties to the pirate ship, thrashing
amid the crashing waves. With the grappling hooks on her prow cut asunder, though, she began to turn
away from her tormentor.
Skyreach fisted her sword, letting go the axe. It was too late to cut any more. The pirates were closing
even more quickly than before. Their only hope lay in the other grappling hooks not being strong enough to
hold the elven cargo freighter.