"Maria V. Snyder - Yelena 02 - Magic Study" - читать интересную книгу автора (Snyder Maria V)

window. I paced the narrow space. The guard seemed to disappear through the wall, but upon
investigation, I discovered a gap that led to a bridge also made of branches.

тАЬSit down,тАЭ Irys said to me. тАЬRelax. YouтАЩre safe here.тАЭ

тАЬEven with that heartwarming reception?тАЭ I countered.

тАЬStandard procedure. Unaccompanied visitors are extremely rare. With the constant danger of jungle
predators, most travelers hire a Zaltana guide. YouтАЩve been edgy and defensive ever since I told you we
were headed to the ZaltanaтАЩs village.тАЭ

Irys pointed at my legs. тАЬYouтАЩre in a fighting stance, prepared for attack. These people are your family.
Why would they want to hurt you?тАЭ

I realized that I had pulled my weapon off my back, and was clutching it in the ready position. With
effort, I relaxed my posture.

тАЬSorry.тАЭ I threaded the bow, a five-foot wooden staff, back into its holder on the side of my backpack.

Fear of the unknown had caused me to clench. For as long as I could remember in Ixia, I had been told
my family was dead. Lost to me forever. Even so, I used to dream of finding an adopted family who
would love and care for me. I had only given up that fantasy when I had been turned into Mogkan and
ReyadтАЩs experiment, and now that I had Valek, I felt I didnтАЩt need a family.

тАЬThatтАЩs not true, Yelena,тАЭ Irys said aloud. тАЬYour family will help you discover who you are and why.
You need them more than you know.тАЭ
тАЬI thought you said it was against your Ethical Code to read someoneтАЩs mind.тАЭ I rankled at her intrusion
on my private thoughts.

тАЬWe are linked as teacher and student. You freely gave me a pathway to your mind by accepting me as
your mentor. It would be easier to divert a waterfall than to break our link.тАЭ

тАЬI donтАЩt remember creating a pathway,тАЭ I grumbled.

тАЬIf there was a conscious effort in making a link, it wouldnтАЩt have happened.тАЭ She watched my face for a
while. тАЬYou gave me your trust and your loyalty. That was all that was needed to forge a bond. While I
wonтАЩt pry into your intimate thoughts and memories, I can pick up on your surface emotions.тАЭ

I opened my mouth to reply, but the green-haired guard returned.

тАЬFollow me,тАЭ he said.

We wound our way through the treetops. Hallways and bridges connected room after room high above
the land. There had been no hint of this maze of dwellings from the ground. We didnтАЩt see or meet a soul
as we passed around bedrooms and through living areas. From glimpses into the rooms, I saw they were
decorated with items found in the jungle. Coconut shells, nuts, berries, grasses, twigs and leaves were all
artfully arranged into wall hangings, book covers, boxes and statues. Someone had even fashioned an
exact replica of one of those long-tailed animals by using white and black stones glued together.

тАЬIrys,тАЭ I said, pointing to the statue, тАЬwhat are those animals?тАЭ