"Karl Edward Wagner - Ravens Eyrie" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wagner Karl Edward)

like lords in some other land. Where is it, Kane?"
But the other man seemed too deep in sleep.
Sadly Weed rose from his side. "At least don't die and leave all
that gold to rot," he begged.
 Opening the lattice window a few inchesтАФfor the room was
warm, and Weed feared this would increase Kane's feverтАФhe
wearily left to join Braddeyas.




III
Ravens Fly by Night

A shower of sparks started up from the fire and disappeared
into the black cavern of the chimney. Weed grunted and shoved
again with the poker, wedging the new logs closer to their charred
predecessors. Perhaps the fire would burn brighter now. The huge
fireplace of limestone blocks occupied most of one end of the
common room. It should have warmed the entire area; instead its
flames crawled dispiritedly over the smouldering logs, and an
unseasonal chill for autumn crept through the room.
Wiping his hands, he turned from the hearth to gaze once more
through the window. Though the full moon was rising higher
above the ridges, thick mist rolled from the Cotras to cloak the
valley beyond. There was little to see as Weed squinted through
the whorled panes; only the neglected grounds of the inn, the
leaf-paved roadway beyond. Above the doorway, the signboard
swung with the wind. Its hinges squawled like a raven's croak,
and against the inn's lights it flung a swaying shadow across the
frosted earth like the shadow of raven's wings.
He examined the bolted door. There should be a man posted
outside, he realized. Even on this night, even though Pleddis was
certainly camped a safe distance back on their trail. Again he
thought of Frassos's strange disappearance. It was not a night to
venture beyond the security of bright lights and locked doors.
Even as a stranger to these mountains, Weed sensed the presence
of evil abroad beneath Demonlord's Moon.
Gloomily he sank onto a bench, his eyes toward the door.
Behind him he could hear sounds from the kitchen. The warm
smell of roasting fowl carried from the cooking area beyond the
bar. Braddeyas kept watch on the two women. Once food was
prepared for the ride before them, the women could be bound
and locked in with the others. Then perhaps he could get
Braddeyas to stand guard outside the inn.
Weed dug his fingers into his eyes, more savagely than need
be, for sleep was numbing his senses. Braddeyas might refuse.
Weed wouldn't blame him; he doubted that he would accept the
risk, either. And while Weed was second in command now,
Braddeyas had been with Kane too many years to be bullied into