"Pierce, Tamora - Circle Of Magic 03 - Daja's Book E-Txt" - читать интересную книгу автора (Pierce Tamora)

smith.Ф
УYou expect me to leave a mate in a pinch,Ф he replied scornfully. УDonТt you see me
nice!Ф
УItТs not that,Ф protested Sandry. She stood up straight, shoulders back, chin up, and
folded her hands neatly in front of her.
The man who had left his jacket there halted with a frown. УExcuse me, my lady,Ф he
said, reaching for his property. He said nothing to Briar, but kept an eye on him.
УI ruined your jacket,Ф Sandry told him, her upper lip quivering. УI canТt explain it,
but you had a metal thread in the embroidery, and it melted. What repayment would
be fair?Ф
УYou melted a thread,Ф he repeated, one black eyebrow raised. УI donТt see a fire
here.Ф He was a handsome young man, with the long black hair and slanted black eyes
common to these mountains. The hint of a smile twitched the side of his mouth.
УMagically,Ф replied Sandry. УIТm pretty sure it was magically. The design was so
beautiful, and now itТs scorched and that thread is gone.Ф
There were muffled chuckles from the warriorТs friends. He examined the design.
УLooks like a kind of spiral fern, doesnТt it?Ф he asked his companions, showing them
the scorch mark. УOne just unfurling.Ф
Briar had to admit, the design didnТt look ruined. A thin,

spiky burn-mark spiralled around the crocus and out across the bands of colour that
radiated from it. Someone could have etched the mark in deliberately.
УDoesnТt seem damaged at all, milady,Ф said one of the riderТs friends.
Sandry gulped. УI could make a new design, and replace that,Ф she told the jacketТs
owner. УIt would take me a while, but if weТre in these mountains for a few weeks...Ф
He shrugged the garment on. УI like it as it is.Ф Picking up her hand, he bowed and
kissed her fingers. УIТll be the envy of my village, with your mark on me.Ф
Sandry blushed crimson. The rider winked at Briar, and walked away.
A few of the other warriors stayed. One removed his jacket, and offered it to the girl.
УWould you do mine?Ф
She shook her head without looking up. УI donТt know how I did it - and if I did, I
donТt know that next time I wouldnТt burn the whole thing up.Ф
The riders looked at each other and shrugged. УIf you figure it out, IТd like to know,Ф
said the one whoТd offered his jacket. The men bowed to her, and went off to find
their horses.
Sandry looked at Briar. УI need to find an answer to this accident,Ф she told him.
УOtherwise, whatТs to say I wonТt destroy something completely?Ф
After pointing out the well to Polyam, Tris had returned to her seat and her book, still
bristling over the TraderТs behaviour. She was just beginning to calm down when a
shadow fell over her page. Looking up, she saw Polyam. УNow what?Ф УOur children
have better manners,Ф the woman said tartly as she thumped the ground with her staff,
trying to find a better place to stand.
УThen go bother one of them,Ф muttered Tris. She went back to her reading.
One end of the staff - the dirty end, she thought indignantly - tapped the pages of her
book. УI have a name: Polyam. Use it, and tell me something, xurdin girl. If you knew
one who was not a Trader - who was trangshi - would you know also why?Ф
Tris brushed dirt-flakes from her book. УWhat do you care? PolyamФ she added when
the Trader glared at her.
Polyam lifted the end of her staff and held it close to the book. УA polite answer is
noted by Oti Bookkeeper, and is entered in the account-book of your life. I have