"Dave Smeds - The Sorcery Within" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smeds Dave)

true. And you say you came from the west?тАЭ
тАЬYes.тАЭ

тАЬGod has indeed been merciful to bring you through the eret-Zyraii.тАЭ He waved at the wasteland. тАЬEven
we do not go there.тАЭ

The last two days had not seemed merciful to Alemar.

тАЬForeigners are rare in the steppes. Where are you bound?тАЭ

тАЬSetan.тАЭ

An animated murmur spread immediately through the riders. The leader laughed momentarily without
amusement. тАЬYou and every bastard child of ten nations. At least youтАЩre honest about it.тАЭ

Alemar hesitated.

The leader said, тАЬI am Lonal, and these are my brothers. We are of the TтАЩlil tribe. You have taken our
water without permission.тАЭ He toyed with his knife hilt, but his expression seemed to soften, the
aggressiveness replaced by curiosity. тАЬNevertheless, I offer you an alternative to death.тАЭ

He gestured toward the dead and wounded. тАЬI have never seen anyone deal with mounted attackers
quite so efficiently.тАЭ

Alemar inclined his head at the compliment, for he could see that this was the appropriate response.
Lonal did not seem overtly angry that his men had suffered. He pointed to the two riderless oeikani that
had been rounded up during the conversation. The man from whom Alemar had stolen the scimitar was
being shoved onto his saddle, arm tucked in front of him. тАЬThe laws of the So-deтАЩes allow me to use my
discretion in certain cases. You have taken our water,тАЭ тАФ he shrugged тАФ тАЭbut the rains have been good
this year. The TтАЩlil need all our fighting men, and you have deprived us. If you will take their places, and
become our brothers, holy law may yet be observed, without requiring your deaths.тАЭ

Alemar searched the leaderтАЩs face three times over, wishing the veil didnтАЩt hide half of it. He had already
begun to detach himself, preparing to die, and it was difficult to shake the mood. He hadnтАЩt expected
this. There were hidden motives at work, but if it were a trap, Alemar couldnтАЩt fathom it тАФ their lives
were already in the hands of the desert men.

тАЬHow many of them understand the High Speech?тАЭ Alemar asked of LonalтАЩs companions. тАЬDo they
know what you propose?тАЭ

тАЬI am Lonal,тАЭ the leader said simply. тАЬThey will do as I say.тАЭ

тАЬWhat of Setan?тАЭ

Lonal scowled. тАЬDoes greed dull your wits? You were rational enough to wear Zyraii robes as you tried
to pass our borders.тАЭ He fingered his own garment. тАЬForeigners are not allowed in Setan.тАЭ

тАЬItтАЩs not treasure weтАЩre after.тАЭ

тАЬNow you mock me. Are you going to accept my offer or not? The sun climbsтАж.тАЭ Already since the