"Elizabeth Vaughan - Chronicles Of The Warlands 01 - Warprize" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vaughan Elizabeth)

It had been long since IтАЩd heard those old words. I kissed his forehead. тАЬMy hand to yours. Blessings
upon you, Warrior of the House of Xy.тАЭ
He smiled, slipping into death even as his hand slipped from mine.

тАЬYou care too much.тАЭ It was Eln again.

His voice floated over the stone tubs that had been set aside to wash instruments. I ignored him for the
moment, concentrating on getting things clean and ready for the next wave of wounded. Experience
taught that the lulls in the fighting were to be used, not wasted.

тАЬA good healer is dispassionate. Objective.тАЭ

The warriorтАЩs body had been taken up for burial. He had been the last of the severely wounded. I had a
small cluster of unhappy apprentices outside, boiling bandages and linens. Not their favorite chore, but a
vital one.

Eln had started brewing more orchid root at the fire. The sweet scent was a comfort. Others were
tending the large kettles of feverтАЩs foe outside. Everyone, no matter how tired, worked and waited. For
the sounds of more battle, more wounded. I closed my eyes, giving in to my exhaustion and prayed for
an end to the war that waged outside the city walls. Prayed that the Firelanders would stop using their
lances. Prayed that IтАЩd be skilled enough that no more of my patients would die.

Eln rattled the jars and bottles, and I opened my eyes and watched him. My old teacher, his long arms
stretching out, putting them in some kind of order. Slow and steady, moving carefully on tall legs,
considering each step. The straight, gray hair that flowed down his back only added to the image of a
lake-crane. He gave me a look out of the corner of his eye, and shook his head. тАЬHow can one so slight
be so stubborn?тАЭ

тАЬEln, how long was I your apprentice?тАЭ

He stared pointedly at my bruised cheek. тАЬLong enough to learn.тАЭ He regarded me with a solemn look.

тАЬAnd I have been a master for how long?тАЭ I rinsed more of the instruments and set them on a cloth to
dry.

He pursed his lips, and pretended to study one of the jars. тАЬLong enough to learn to talk back.тАЭ

I snorted. тАЬDuring that period, how many times have you said that to me?тАЭ

тАЬMore than I can count, but that does not make it any less true.тАЭ He started to gather up the things we
would need to check the wounded and tend them. тАЬIf you are so wise, Lara, then why do I see guilt in
your eyes?тАЭ

I glanced out the kitchen window. The afternoon shadows were growing. тАЬI should not have tried to cut it
out. Should have left it alone. If I hadтАжтАЭ

тАЬIf.тАЭ Eln came to stand next to me. тАЬIf you had left it in, was his death not as sure? You tried. That was all
you could do. All any of us can do when we are overwhelmed like this.тАЭ