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

Somewhat impatiently he pulled free of their grasp and half fell
onto a low-backed oak chair next to the fire. The crop-eared
bandit righted the overturned table and shoved it before him,
while the blond procured a thick bottle of brandy from the
trembling Cholos and crossed the room. The red-haired giant
mutely accepted the bottle and tilted it to his lips for a long
swallow. When he thudded it to the table, the dark green glass
was empty to half its depth.
Gingerly he brushed the tangled strands of hair from his face
and settled his wolfskin cloak about his shoulders, his manner at
once domineering. Fresh blood soaked crude bandages along the
slashed side of his leather hacton, and a crusted wound on his
scalp had streaked his face with dried blood. Beneath the rust of
beard and caked gore, his face was white with fever.
His eyes seemed to glow with a strange blue light by the fire.
Perhaps it was the fever. Almost casually his gaze wandered
about the room, touched the shadowed balcony where Klesst
crouched. For an instant his eyes met hers, and Klesst froze with
fear. There was something unnatural about his eyes, she instantly
realizedтАФand something familiar. But while he must have seen
her, his gaze did not pause in its quick surveillance of the
common room.
Instead, his stare halted on her mother's face. Thoughtfully he
studied her, as if searching for a memory.
"Good evening, Ionor," he greeted her then.
Mother's lips were a tight line, and Klesst could sense the
tension in her unsmiling face. "Hello, Kane," she whispered, and
quickly turned her eyes from his stare.
Klesst sucked in her breath, recognizing Kane from the
countless tales she had overheard of the dread bandit leader. No
wonder they stood frozen in fear at the bar...
Then she heard Kane ask, "Weed, did you check to see if there
was anyone else in the upstairs roomsтАФother than that kid up
there by the railing?"
The lanky blond outlaw started to reply, "Just checked the
outbuildings so farтАФgoing to search the inn right now. They said
there wasn't anybody else here..."
"Be certain," ordered Kane. "And stick that kid in bed."
But Klesst had already fled to her room.
"How are you feeling?" asked Weed, more than a little
surprised that Kane had regained consciousness. But then there
always seemed to burn some last reserve of strength within his
huge body.
Kane grunted noncommittally. "Damn fever comes and goes.
Hard to know where I am part of the time. Could swear I wasn't
wounded that badтАФunless that quarrel was poisoned."
"Ought to have Braddeyas clean that hole in your side, Put on
a fresh dressing. Likely it's all festered along your ribs."
"Later, maybe. Don't want to start it bleeding again." Kane
rubbed his forehead wearily, wiping away dried blood and greasy