"Patricia C. Wrede - Lyra 02 - The Raven Ring" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wrede Patricia C)

someone may still guess where you've come from. And you're an attractive young woman; that can be a
danger in itself."

For a moment, Eleret was tempted; then she shook her head. She didn't think Climeral could assign
someone to be her guide and bodyguard for the whole time she was in Ciaron, so sooner or later she
would have to survive the city on her own. It might as well be sooner.

Climeral shrugged. "All right. I'll write you out directions to the inn, then." He reached for the inkpot
in the corner of the table.

"No need to waste the paper," Eleret told him quickly, a little shocked by the very idea. "Just say
them over; it'll be faster."

"You're sure you'll remember them?"
 "Quite sure." Eleret smiled, thinking of the straight, evenly spaced streets outside. The problem
wouldn't be remembering the turns; it would be keeping count of them as she walked. She'd have to,
though, if she wanted to find the inn. Everything in Ciaron looked like everything else; from what she'd
seen, there were hardly any useful landmarks.

Climeral still looked dubious, but he told her. He seemed surprised when she did not ask him to
repeat the directions, and even more surprised when, to reassure him, she faultlessly recited what he had
said."

"What a remarkable memory," Climeral said when she finished.

"Me?" Eleret said. "You mean because I can say over that little bit? That's nothing. You should hear
Siff or Bilet do a telling; they can go on for hours and never miss a word."

"This ability is common among Cilhar?"

"Most people can do it a little, if that's what you mean."

Climeral gave her a long, thoughtful look. "I can see that there is a great deal more to your people
than their skill with weapons. Since you have so little difficulty, I may as well tell you now how to get to
the offices of the Imperial Guard."

Eleret listened closely to the instructions, and repeated them at Climeral's request. It all seemed
simple enough. In another day, or at most two, she should be ready to leave Ciaron. Climeral raised an
eyebrow when she mentioned this, but did not comment, and a few minutes later a small boy solemnly
escorted her to the door of the school.




TWO


The sounds and smells outside were a shock after the cool quiet of the Islander's school, and Eleret
paused for a moment to get her bearings. A wrinkled, sour-looking man passed by, pushing a
two-wheeled cart with long handles. On the far side of the street, a dark-haired woman in a brown wool