"Maria V. Snyder - Poison 1 - Poison Study" - читать интересную книгу автора (Snyder Maria V)

below was the ground.

Between my room and the stables were the CommanderтАЩs kennels and the exercise yard for the horses.
The stable boys and dog trainers wouldnтАЩt care if I escaped. I could drop down without any effort and
be gone. Tempting, except for the fact that I would be dead in two days. Maybe another time, when two
days of freedom might be worth the price.

I could hope.

Chapter Three
R eyadтАЩs whip cut into my skin, slashing my flesh with a burning pain. тАЬMove,тАЭ he ordered.

I dodged ineffectively, hampered by the rope tied to my wrist, which anchored me to a post in the center
of the room.

тАЬMove faster, keep moving!тАЭ Reyad shouted.

The whip snapped again and again. My tattered shirt gave no protection from the stinging leather. A cool,
soothing voice entered my skull. тАЬGo away,тАЭ it whispered. тАЬSend your mind to a distant place, a warm
loving place. Let your body go.тАЭ

The silken voice didnтАЩt belong to Reyad or Brazell. A savior, perhaps? An easy way to escape the
torment, tempting but I held out for another opportunity. Determined, I stayed, focusing on avoiding the
lash. When exhaustion claimed me, my body began to vibrate of its own accord. Like an out-of-control
hummingbird, I darted around the room, avoiding the whip.



I woke in darkness soaked with sweat, my crumpled uniform twisted tight around my body. The
vibration in my dream replaced by a pounding. Before falling asleep, I had wedged a chair under the
doorknob to prevent anyone from barging in. The chair rattled with each thud.

тАЬIтАЩm up,тАЭ I shouted. The racket stopped. When I opened the door, Margg stood frowning with a lantern.
I hastened to change my uniform and joined her in the hallway. тАЬI thought you said sunrise.тАЭ

Her disapproving stare seared my lips shut. тАЬIt is sunrise.тАЭ

I followed Margg through the labyrinth of the castleтАЩs hidden hallways as the day began to brighten. My
room faced west, shielding me from the morning sun. Margg extinguished the lantern just as the scent of
sweet cakes filled the air.

Inhaling, I asked her, тАЬBreakfast?тАЭ A hopeful, almost pleading, note crept into my voice, galling me.

тАЬNo. Valek will feed you.тАЭ

The image of breakfast laced with poison did wonders for suppressing my appetite. My stomach
tightened as the unwanted memory of ValekтАЩs ButterflyтАЩs Dust came to mind. By the time we had
reached his office, I had convinced myself that I was about to collapse, soon to be vanquished by the
poison if I didnтАЩt receive the antidote.