"R. Garcia y Robertson - Firebird" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robertson R Garcia Y)

She nodded dumbly, unable to come up with anything but the truth, though she knew it would doom her.

тАЬGood,тАЭ the Grand Duke concluded, тАЬwe are at last getting somewhere. Do you know where he is?тАЭ

тАЬNot for certain.тАЭ He could be long gone from the cave. In fact she fervently hoped he was.

Prince Sergey smiled, a chilling, terrible sight. тАЬNothing in life is certainтАФbut I wager this will be sure
enough.тАЭ He turned to his Ensign, saying, тАЬPay her for the girl.тАЭ

Taking his reins in his banner hand, the Ensign fished a gold coin out of his purse, tossing it at the naked
feet of the Witch. The Bone Witch made no attempt to pick up the coin. тАЬThat is for the girl,тАЭ the Ensign
explained.

тАЬShe is not for sale,тАЭ replied the Witch.

тАЬGive her the whole purse,тАЭ the Grand Duke ordered impatiently. His Ensign tossed the purse down
beside the coinтАФbut the Witch ignored it as well.

тАЬWhat do you want, grandmother?тАЭ Grand Duke Sergey seemed astonished that the Bone Witch refused
his generosity.

тАЬFor you to leave.тАЭ There was a hint of warning in the WitchтАЩs answer.

тАЬWe will,тАЭ Sergey agreed, тАЬwhen we have the girl.тАЭ

тАЬShe is under my protection,тАЭ the Witch insisted.

Grand Duke Sergey glared at her. Katya could feel the tension in the clearing. Two dozen armed men sat
loafing in the saddle, backed by valets, pages, a steward and butler. Horses looked on with equine
curiosity. The Lycanthrope stood waiting, aching to use his fangs and claws. тАЬBy rights I could have you
burned,тАЭ Prince Sergey pointed out.

тАЬDo it if you dare,тАЭ replied the Witch, unworried by the princeтАЩs power.

Sergey motioned for his archers to dismount, saying, тАЬSeize the girl.тАЭ

Horrified, Katya stepped back toward the skin door. This was all her fault. She had brought the horse to
the Bone Hut. An archer tried to brush past the Witch to grab herтАФ but the Bone Witch shoved him
sideways, landing him in a heap. Two archers seized the WitchтАЩs arms, but she whirled about, faster than
the eye could follow, sending the armored pair flying to opposite ends of the clearing. Another archer
tried to draw his sword, but the Witch reached out and grabbed his wrist, twisting it until it snapped. His
blade dropped from limp fingers.
Archers fell back, appalled by the old womanтАЩs strength. The Lycanthrope dropped to a crouch,
prepared to spring. Prince Sergey shouted, тАЬUse your bowsтАФbut do not hit the girl. I will flay the man
that misses.тАЭ

A half dozen arrows leaped from their bows, striking the Witch in the chest and hip. She hardly even
winced, standing between Katya and the men. Katya clung to the skin door, her fist jammed in her
mouth, stifling a scream, aghast at what she had done.