"Robert Reed - Sister Alice" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reed Robert)

тАЬKnow why I pissed her off?тАЭ

тАЬWhy?тАЭ

The battered face grinned, Xo proud of the gap in his teeth. тАЬI donтАЩt have to play this war now.тАЭ

тАЬRavleenтАЩs not that angry,тАЭ Ord countered. тАЬShe isnтАЩt even half-enough pissed to ban you.тАЭ

тАЬBut IтАЩm hurt. Look!тАЭ

тАЬSo?тАЭ Ord refused to act impressed. Glancing over a shoulder, he observed, тАЬYouтАЩre walking and
talking. Not talking fast and your words are dumb, but still, youтАЩre not that hurt.тАЭ

But XoтАЩs FamilyтАФthe great NuyensтАФwere ridiculously cautious. A sister might see his suffering and
order him to remain home for a few days. It wouldnтАЩt be the first time, particularly if Xo moaned like he
did now, telling Ord, тАЬI donтАЩt want to play snowfare.тАЭ

тАЬWhy not?тАЭ

Wincing, Xo pretended to ache. But by now a cocktail of anesthesias was working, and both of them
knew it.

тАЬIf you can stand, you can fight,тАЭ Ord reminded him. тАЬWhen you became Gold, you took a pledge to
serveтАФтАЭ

тАЬWait.тАЭ The boy waded into the deepest snow, heading for an outcropping of cultured granite. He found
a block of bright pink stone and carried it back, dropping it at OrdтАЩs feet. тАЬDo me a favor?тАЭ

тАЬNo.тАЭ

тАЬBut not too hard. Just nick me here.тАЭ He touched his stubby black hair. тАЬIтАЩll pay you back sometime.
ThatтАЩs a promise.тАЭ

Ord lifted the stone without conviction.

тАЬMake it ugly,тАЭ the boy prompted.

Ord shook his head, saying, тАЬFirst youтАЩve got to tell me why you donтАЩt want to fight. Is it Ravleen?тАЭ

тАЬI donтАЩt care about Ravleen.тАЭ

тАЬTell me the truth, or I wonтАЩt help you.тАЭ

With his white gloves, the boy touched his scabbed and unnaturally rounded face. тАЬBecause itтАЩs stupid.тАЭ

тАЬWhatтАЩs stupid?тАЭ

тАЬThis game. This whole snowfare silliness.тАЭ