[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
stay here, guarded close.
But
There will be no trickery. The eld issued another order.
One of his riders gripped Alexeika s arm and pulled her off Sir Alard s horse.
She twisted, kicking in midair, and landed on her feet with a stumble.
Snarling something, she reached for her daggers.
Alexeika, no! Dain commanded.
She froze. Curly tendrils of her dark hair framed her face, and a long strand
that had escaped her braid hung crookedly over one ear. I ll not be taken
prisoner, she said gruffly. Never again will I be held against my will.
The eld leader swung his attention back to Dain. You are both mixed-bloods.
Is she your sister, Thiatereika?
Again, a pang of regret stabbed through Dain. He was relieved that they knew
him, even recognized him, but deeply saddened that Thia would never meet her
mother s people.
Thiatereika is not with us, Dain said formally. His throat felt like it had
something wedged in it; he could not seem to make himself phrase his answer
differently.
Who is this maiden? the eld leader asked suspiciously.
With a proud toss of her head, Alexeika walked up to stand at Dain s stirrup.
I am Alexeika, daughter of Prince Ilymir Volvn. My mother was half-eldin and
from
Both of you will come, the eld leader said. As he lifted his hand, tiny
flames ignited from the tips of his fingers and cast a faint, pearly glow of
light. Your mixed blood will enable you to go across.
Sire! Sir Terent called in alarm. Don t go off with them! They mean you no
good
Sir Terent, hold your tongue! Dain ordered furiously. I will not hear you
insult their hospitality.
Ain t hospitality to part you from your protector and haul you off at
spearpoint, Sir Terent said stubbornly.
I am in no danger, Dain retorted. They will treat me well. Bide here
quietly until my return. I won t be long.
I must go with you, Sir Terent said stubbornly, coming forward.
The eld leader spoke a sharp command, and one of the riders bounded across Sir
Terent s path.
Confronted by a huge, snarling beyar and a rider holding a javelin in
readiness to throw, Sir Terent backed down.
In Thod s name, sire, take not this risk! he pleaded one last time.
The eld leader was glaring at Dain; clearly the scant patience he d possessed
was gone. They cannot enter our sacred groves, he said in outrage. They
profane the very ground.
I give you my word they will not stir from this place, Dain said, making
sure he spoke loudly enough for Sir Terent and the others to hear him. They
will cause no trouble. You have my bond on this.
The eld leader looked at Dain with open distrust, but after a moment his
scrutiny swung away. He nodded, then wheeled his beyar around. Very well.
Come.
Alexeika stepped forward, her blue-gray eyes large and luminous.
Dain reached down to give her a hand so she could climb on Soleil behind him.
She hesitated, but he gave her a quick smile, and something softened in her
eyes. She climbed up behind his saddle with quick agility, and in that
momentary clasp of their hands, he sensed the excitement that pulsed inside
her.
Page 90
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Dain felt the same way, for he was certain he was going to meet a part of his
heritage and find out
more about who he was. He would meet his family. There would be celebrations
and long talks. And best of all, he would learn how to cure Pheresa.
The beyars padded silently over the crusted snow. Night fell over the forest,
but the fairlight flickering from the eld riders fingers provided enough
illumination to guide Dain through trees and brush nearly as choked and thick
as that to be found in the Dark Forest. Gradually Dain grew conscious of
something very strange. The trees around them were alive, for he could sense
their low, dormant life force. But there seemed to be nothing else alive in
this forest: no little animals hibernating in their burrows, no birds, no
predators nothing.
In all directions he sensed only a silent stillness that made the hair prickle
beneath his mail coif. He stayed alert in the saddle, riding with one hand
resting on his sword hilt. Beneath him, Soleil pranced along like a coiled
spring, ready to bolt at the least provocation.
At last, they came to a stream, narrow and incredibly swift. The water rushed
past a scrim of ice trying with little success to form along the edge of the
bank. The riders around Dain parted to allow him to ride alongside their
leader.
A narrow bridge spanned the stream. Access to it was guarded by a pair of
life-sized, carved wooden beyars standing on their hind legs.
The leader dismounted with a gesture for Dain to do likewise. An eld rider
hurried forward to take
Soleil s reins.
Dain watched him with a frown, but the eld s hands were gentle with the
nervous horse. He murmured softly to Soleil as the eld led the steed away.
Come, the leader said, then walked across the bridge, the sound of his
footsteps masked by the rushing water.
Dain walked between the carved beyars, and was startled to feel himself
brushed by some essence of the animal, as though beyar spirit resided in these
statues. Warily, he quickened his stride across the bridge planks, with
Alexeika hurrying at his heels, and joined the leader on the other side of the
stream. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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stay here, guarded close.
But
There will be no trickery. The eld issued another order.
One of his riders gripped Alexeika s arm and pulled her off Sir Alard s horse.
She twisted, kicking in midair, and landed on her feet with a stumble.
Snarling something, she reached for her daggers.
Alexeika, no! Dain commanded.
She froze. Curly tendrils of her dark hair framed her face, and a long strand
that had escaped her braid hung crookedly over one ear. I ll not be taken
prisoner, she said gruffly. Never again will I be held against my will.
The eld leader swung his attention back to Dain. You are both mixed-bloods.
Is she your sister, Thiatereika?
Again, a pang of regret stabbed through Dain. He was relieved that they knew
him, even recognized him, but deeply saddened that Thia would never meet her
mother s people.
Thiatereika is not with us, Dain said formally. His throat felt like it had
something wedged in it; he could not seem to make himself phrase his answer
differently.
Who is this maiden? the eld leader asked suspiciously.
With a proud toss of her head, Alexeika walked up to stand at Dain s stirrup.
I am Alexeika, daughter of Prince Ilymir Volvn. My mother was half-eldin and
from
Both of you will come, the eld leader said. As he lifted his hand, tiny
flames ignited from the tips of his fingers and cast a faint, pearly glow of
light. Your mixed blood will enable you to go across.
Sire! Sir Terent called in alarm. Don t go off with them! They mean you no
good
Sir Terent, hold your tongue! Dain ordered furiously. I will not hear you
insult their hospitality.
Ain t hospitality to part you from your protector and haul you off at
spearpoint, Sir Terent said stubbornly.
I am in no danger, Dain retorted. They will treat me well. Bide here
quietly until my return. I won t be long.
I must go with you, Sir Terent said stubbornly, coming forward.
The eld leader spoke a sharp command, and one of the riders bounded across Sir
Terent s path.
Confronted by a huge, snarling beyar and a rider holding a javelin in
readiness to throw, Sir Terent backed down.
In Thod s name, sire, take not this risk! he pleaded one last time.
The eld leader was glaring at Dain; clearly the scant patience he d possessed
was gone. They cannot enter our sacred groves, he said in outrage. They
profane the very ground.
I give you my word they will not stir from this place, Dain said, making
sure he spoke loudly enough for Sir Terent and the others to hear him. They
will cause no trouble. You have my bond on this.
The eld leader looked at Dain with open distrust, but after a moment his
scrutiny swung away. He nodded, then wheeled his beyar around. Very well.
Come.
Alexeika stepped forward, her blue-gray eyes large and luminous.
Dain reached down to give her a hand so she could climb on Soleil behind him.
She hesitated, but he gave her a quick smile, and something softened in her
eyes. She climbed up behind his saddle with quick agility, and in that
momentary clasp of their hands, he sensed the excitement that pulsed inside
her.
Page 90
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Dain felt the same way, for he was certain he was going to meet a part of his
heritage and find out
more about who he was. He would meet his family. There would be celebrations
and long talks. And best of all, he would learn how to cure Pheresa.
The beyars padded silently over the crusted snow. Night fell over the forest,
but the fairlight flickering from the eld riders fingers provided enough
illumination to guide Dain through trees and brush nearly as choked and thick
as that to be found in the Dark Forest. Gradually Dain grew conscious of
something very strange. The trees around them were alive, for he could sense
their low, dormant life force. But there seemed to be nothing else alive in
this forest: no little animals hibernating in their burrows, no birds, no
predators nothing.
In all directions he sensed only a silent stillness that made the hair prickle
beneath his mail coif. He stayed alert in the saddle, riding with one hand
resting on his sword hilt. Beneath him, Soleil pranced along like a coiled
spring, ready to bolt at the least provocation.
At last, they came to a stream, narrow and incredibly swift. The water rushed
past a scrim of ice trying with little success to form along the edge of the
bank. The riders around Dain parted to allow him to ride alongside their
leader.
A narrow bridge spanned the stream. Access to it was guarded by a pair of
life-sized, carved wooden beyars standing on their hind legs.
The leader dismounted with a gesture for Dain to do likewise. An eld rider
hurried forward to take
Soleil s reins.
Dain watched him with a frown, but the eld s hands were gentle with the
nervous horse. He murmured softly to Soleil as the eld led the steed away.
Come, the leader said, then walked across the bridge, the sound of his
footsteps masked by the rushing water.
Dain walked between the carved beyars, and was startled to feel himself
brushed by some essence of the animal, as though beyar spirit resided in these
statues. Warily, he quickened his stride across the bridge planks, with
Alexeika hurrying at his heels, and joined the leader on the other side of the
stream. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]