"Irene Radford - Merlins Descendents 03 - Guardian of the Vision" - читать интересную книгу автора (Radford Irene)

for the rest of the pack. Youngster though she was, she kept the dogs quiet. War dogs one and all; they
knew their business sometimes better than we. By the time the ground leveled out beneath us, I had
guessed why Lord Douglas wanted us to raid his own village. He wanted to steal something valuable
from them, using the raid as cover, to blame us for his perfidy. He would trap and slaughter us at the
same time, silencing our witness. I raised one hand to stop the others. We needed ; to go back, before
Lord Douglas trapped us. I thought I knew a better way.

In the back of my head, I felt Raven smile. There is always a better way. Lightning flashed and thunder
rolled at that moment, unleashing the full fury of the storm upon our heads. In the flare of blue-white light,
with my senses extended, I saw a score of mounted men waiting atop the next hill. Not our men. Da
pressed forward, too eager for the fray to exercise caution. тАЬDa, wait!тАЭ I called to him quietly, using
magic as well as good sense to persuade him.

He ignored me. I raised my hand again, wanting a spell to hold him in place, not knowing how to do that.

The storm raged. More lightning and thunder ripped the skies apart. Energy crackled from the sky to my
upthrust I hand.

It grabbed hold of me. My mind fled. Power shot through me. Fire shot from my hand to thatch.

The largest cottage in the village burst into flames with a mighty explosion.

Blinded, I rocked back in my saddle.

Power drained from me along with strength and will. The leader of the border raiders resided in the now
blazing cottage. тАШTwas he who had led the men who stole and murdered within the boundaries of
Kirkenwood. тАЩTwas he who raped Meg in the hut where she had gone as midwife. He had murdered
the new mother and her babe. тАШTwas he who would be the first to die this night. By my hand.

Smoke blinded me. The smell of burning hair and flesh gagged in my throat. I doubled over in pain at the
passing of a life.

Helwriaeth let loose another howl. Sadness ripped through me. I wanted to lift my head and match her
note for note. But while she exulted, I mourned. Endless moments of burning agony ripped through me
and my victim. We couldnтАЩt breathe. Pain. PAIN.
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And then nothing.

A silent numbness descended.

I looked upon the scene as if from a different body, a different mind. And then the raiders were upon us.
Cold steel clashed with cold steel. Crossbow bolts flew through the air. Smoke choked us. Horses
reared and screamed. The dogs lunged, jaws snapping. I saw one break the leg of a riderless horse with
his massive jaws.

All around me the confusion and noise of battle circled, leaving me isolated. And yet I was vastly aware