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

fight, the temperature had increased.

Abruptly Elenya slipped her rapier into its scabbard and climbed into the saddle of one of the oeikani.
Alemar paused a moment longer. He was not angry at her impulsiveness; it merely meant that she had
already thought of what he was just realizing тАФ in their circumstances, they shouldnтАЩt question luck.
Lonal traded words with his companions after Alemar had mounted. Two of them asked short
questions, which the leader answered even more briefly. He told the twins, тАЬForget whatever life you
had in the world that is outside Zyraii. This land will never let you live unless you are committed to it, and
to its people. The sooner you accept this, the sooner you profit.тАЭ It was hard to tell if this were advice,
or a command. He ordered them to the middle of a double column, and the group set out.

As soon as they were away, carrion birds began circling the bodies of the two dead men. Alemar
looked back at one point. Lonal noticed the hesitation.

тАЬThose who die in battle need no ceremony,тАЭ he said. тАЬGod will care for them.тАЭ


II
THE FOREST OFCILENDRODELstretched entirely across the northern edge of the Dragon Sea. The village
of Eruth hid within the silent giants that made up the wood, buildings interspersed between the boles of
the largest trees, the underbrush and smaller trunks removed to make way for the community. Even then
the forest attempted to reclaim its own; many of the house yards were swamped in berry bushes and
decorated with vines that sometimes concealed all but the windows and doors. The late hour had doused
the lights of most of the houses, but lantern glow paraded out of the larger of the townтАЩs two taverns, full
of belly laughs and the scent of rich woodland ale.

The main room contained heavy beams of wood set high and many rough-hewn tables and chairs.
Approximately half were occupied by villagers wearing brightly colored clothing made of the durable
quarn silk for which this part of Cilendrodel was famous. They took little notice of Keron as he entered,
dressed as he was in an identical manner. Eruth was on the trade road and accustomed to newcomers.
He strode to the bar, and the barkeeper recognized him.

тАЬHello, Ampet,тАЭ Keron said.

If the man was surprised, he hid it. He gestured toward a door just to the side of the bar. тАЬWait in there.
Have you eaten?тАЭ

тАЬNot recently.тАЭ

тАЬIтАЩll see that something is sent in. HeтАЩll be with you when we close тАФ it shouldnтАЩt be very long.тАЭ

Keron did as he was told. The room behind the bar was small, containing a table, four chairs, and a
narrow bed. A rear door led to the compost pile, outhouse, and forest. A stairway from the inn on the
second story ended just to the left. Even next to the building, the overhead foliage was thick, and stole
the starlight.

Keron stood in the rear portal and whistled тАФ a single, quick note. Soon the same note, sounded twice,
came from somewhere in the nearby underbrush. Satisfied, Keron reentered and secured the door with
a heavy bar.