"Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman - StarShield Book 1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Weis Margaret)

another day.
Merinda stood ankle deep on a sand bar she had come to think of as her own and felt all of it
become a part of her again. This was life, she thought, this is sustenance. I need so very little to bring
me the joy that I want out of life. IтАЩll make my own way and endure the pain and the loneliness and the
frustration so long as there is a place like this that I can call home. IтАЩll travel wherever destiny takes me
so long as there is always someone, some singular one, who is home awaiting me.
The dark figure moved behind her, nearly invisible in the billowing obscurity of the thrashing
water. Footfalls without sound. No wasted movement. As the figure moved toward her it was revealed
as a tall man, his deep gray tailored clothing covering him from head to foot. The dark cloak he wore
over it all was heavy from the mists and did not billow as was its custom. Her back was toward him as
he closed the distance between them, coolly and efficiently, his large gray gloves reaching for her.
Merinda stood relaxed, gazing up into the woven cascade of the falls.
Her eyes flashed sideways.
Suddenly Merinda stepped backward, both hands moving up to grasp one of the threatening
arms. She thrust her hip into the approaching manтАЩs own waist, attempting to leverage the attacker over
her.
The man reversed, stepping sideways and twisting her arm back around behind her. She cried
out from the pain but in the same moment hooked one of her feet behind the ankle of her attacker and
shoved herself bodily toward him with her free leg.
They both tumbled backward against a rock outcropping at the edge of the beach. The gray
manтАЩs breath rushed from him in a sudden тАЬoofтАЭ, his grip relaxed slightly from the impact. Merinda
wrenched her hand free, kicked the man into the rock again. As he rebounded unsteadily, she grabbed
him by both hands, fell backward into the sand and planted both feet planted into his stomach.
The dark robes fluttered over her as she kicked and released him. The tall man sailed head down
over her, his arms flailing in the thick air as he unceremoniously fell back-first into the shallow waters
at the beachтАЩs edge. The deluge of his impact had not yet hit the ground when she was already rolled to
her feet and leaping for him, her hand drawing her weapon from her belt as she moved. The final
droplets were just hit the waterтАЩs surface when she pressed one knee against his chest and leveled the
weaponтАЩs sites between her assailantтАЩs eyes.
His eyes. Those granite gray eyes.
He sputtered as a wave from the pool washed over his face, spraying water and coughing to
clear his mouth and nose.

┬й Copyright 1997 by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman / All Rights Reserved. Page 8
 Merinda laughed. тАЬOh, great and powerful Vestis Novus I see that you have once again proven
your superiority to us lowly Atis Librae. Will you surrender to me now?тАЭ
The hood fell back from the prone man as he craned his head up out of the water, straining to
keep his face above the surface. With the action came an explosion of black curled hair above a strong
face. It may have been considered to heavy in the jaw for some peopleтАЩs tastes, Merinda reflected тАФ
certainly that was the opinion of Librae Brenai, the Omnet coworker with whom she had roomed ever
since they had first met for their initiate training on Netprime over two years ago. Kiria Brenai had
quite firmly stated her opinion that Queekat ShnтАЩdar could break stone with his lantern jaw, and, for all
Kiria knew, probably did.
Then, as Merinda watched, those gray eyes flashed at her and a wide smile spread across his
strong, angular face. Those eyes, she knew, were for her; that smile, somehow her property. тАЬI surren-
der, Mistress Librae,тАЭ he spoke in a high, fluting voice, тАЬto the honor of your order and its superior
training.тАЭ
MerindaтАЩs eyes went wide with mock disbelief, тАЬWhat? Not to me?тАЭ Her knee pressed his chest
down again, plunging his face momentarily beneath the small waves.
тАЬYes, yes,тАЭ Queekat sputtered as he surfaced again half laughing, тАЬI surrender to you.тАЭ