"Michelle West - Winter Death" - читать интересную книгу автора (West Michelle)

sparse growth.
The children carried word of his presence from one end of the village to the
other, but they came in numbers to where Kayla cleaned the heavy ceramics that
held the morning porridge. Kayla quietly washed and dried her hands, while
smaller hands tugged at her apron's hem and strings.
"There's a Companion in Riverend!" Tess said, her dark eyes wide and round.
"I know," Kayla told her softly, bending and gathering her in shaking arms.
"It's got no Herald!" Evan added. "lt's got no rider!"
"I know," Kayla replied. She straightened.
"Everyone wants to see it. Do you think it's come searching?"
"Aye, little, I think it's come searching."
"For who?" Tess asked, insistent, and unaware of the stillness of Kayla's
expression. "Do you think he'll take Evan away?"
Evan was her older brother, by about four years. "Not yet."
"Too bad."
 She laughed. "I'm sure Evan thinks so, too."
"But do you think he's lost his Herald? Do you think he needs help? Do you
thinkтАФ"
"I think," she said, "that he'll have died of old age before I can see him if I answer
all your questions first."
"Just one more?"
"One more."
"Do you think he'll let me ride?"
"No, little, I think you'll fall off his back, and Companions aren't in the business
of visiting villages just to injure the dearest of their people." She kissed the girl's
forehead, just as she would have once kissed the forehead of her youngest.
Tess wrapped her arms around Kayla's neck. "But what do you think he wants?"
"I think," she said quietly, "that we'll find out soon. Now hush."

Widow Davis was there, in the clearing by river's side. The river itself, cold and
loud, was a thin one, but it was clear and the water, fresh. She looked up when
Kayla approached, her eyes narrowed and wrinkled by exposure to wind, to cold,
and yes, to the scant sun. "Well, then," she said, "You've heard."
"I've...heard."
"Your mother told me," the widow said, turning back to her bucket.
"Told you?"
"To be careful of the Companions."
"They're not evil, Widow Davis."
"No, I'm certain of it. All of our stories say so, and they've come to the aid of the
village at least three times in my living memory." She was silent a moment. "But
this will be the first time they take more than they offer."
"Widow DavisтАФ"
The old woman's look stopped her flat. "Come on, then. You're here, and we
might as well have it out." She offered Kayla an arm; Kayla shifted Tess to one
side and took it.
Together they crossed the uneven ground that led from stream to the shadows
cast by the tall, white Companion, caparisoned in livery of blue and sliver, belled
so his movements might evoke a sense of music, a sense of play. But his eyes were
dark, and large as the palms of a child's hand, and he did not blink when he turned
his massive head toward the two women Children dogged their steps, crossed their