"Christopher Rowley - Bazil 06 - Dragons of Argonath" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rowley Christopher)

survive the morrow, when the harrow would tear through these fields. The
day after that they would be returned to their fields, a simple task that
farmworkers would perform, since all that was required was to open the
bags and dump out the toads, carefully.

At lunch she rested sitting on the stone wall above the field. Behind her
the ridge rose up in a long dun-colored mass. Spread before her was the
town of Valmes, spires and roofs visible amid the trees. The graceful stone
tower of the temple was due north, and the long spine of the temple roof
was visible just behind. It was a well-sited town, with centuries of concern
taken with every detail of place and road. Some black cattle were being
moved up a lane about half a mile distant. Farther away sheep dotted the
hillsides of Big Bank and Chalk Hill. In the sky were a handful of soft white
clouds.

Farmer Gelourd sent out fresh-baked bread, cheese, and fruit to all the
workers in his fields. With the toad collectors he was always free with the
best in his cellar. A good Valmes Reserva was uncorked and poured into
Lessis's plain tin cup. She washed down the good bread and the soft white
cheese, and then ate an apple. The wine was rather too good for her old tin
cup, but Lessis decided that was part of Farmer Gelourd's homage to his
toadsтАФthe "worthy little folk" of every well-kept field, who would
annihilate crickets, beetles, and caterpillars.

Lessis enjoyed the moment and gazed over toward the town with
peaceful detachment. She had found retirement even easier to enjoy than
she had imagined. Just worrying about the roof of her house, and the
flowers and fruit trees was enough to fill some days. Add in such duties as
the gathering of toads or the blessing of crops, and she found she had
limited time to devote to the study of the mystic.

Suddenly she noticed a small node of change strike the pastoral scene.
Someone, walking very fast, emerged from the trees on the west farm
road. The figure was instantly at odds with the peace around it, a dot that
emitted a field of tension.

It disappeared from view when the road went around a bend, then
came back into sight, pulling hard up the long slope. At the crossing it
turned onto the lane running up to Gelourd's fields.

Clearly whatever message impelled this person was important.

Now the figure was close enough for Lessis to see that it was exactly
what she had feared, a tall girl in novice blues.

Lessis studied the girl as she came closer and saw a long face, a
determined set to the shoulders, dark hair tied back in a novice bob. The
clothes seemed too big for her, but maybe she would grow into them.

The girl approached her. Lessis's concern grew. Everyone knew that she