[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
there s a broken limb that has growth buds that died.
Hryessa nodded.
Anything else? asked Ryba, her eyes circling the table. After a long
silence, she continued. We ll need a place for an outpost-one that can be
watched, but isn t in the canyon itself-and a clear route to get back to the
tower. I want two guards there all the time from now on.
Two?
One to watch, and one to get back the warning to us.
Why don t we just block the canyon?
Because then I don t know where Gerlich will attack from, pointed out
Ryba. Oh& there s a back path from the canyon to the stable-or a way
Gerlich s men will take to try to fire the stables. Find it, and work out the
best place for an ambush. That will be a quick way to take out four of his
armsmen, and they won t be expecting it at dawn.
Fierral and Saryn exchanged glances.
Nylan slipped past the stairs and headed for the north door and the
bathhouse. He hoped that Ryba s visions were correct, but he wasn t about to
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question her, not when her perceptions had been so accurate so far. And this
time, if Gerlich did as she foresaw, there wouldn t be any question of guilt.
CIX
GERLICH HOLDS UP his hand, and the column slows to a halt. The early-morning
mist rises out of the trees to the east of the road that continues to climb as
it turns northward.
All right, Ser Wizard, the big man announces. Get out your glass or
whatever you need, and scout out that trail. He points to a gap between the
trees on the side of the road. I want you to make sure no one is on it.
That s not even a real trail, and it goes right into the mountain,
protests Hissl. What good will that do?
It is a trail, answers Gerlich. I ve scouted it, and it curves through
this slope and rocky ridge and comes out right behind the tower-inside their
watch posts and defenses. And it s close enough so that there s a back way to
their stables. You have the map on that, Nirso. The hunter nods to the squat
armsman riding behind Narliat.
Narliat s eyes flick from the wizard, who dismounts and eases a padded and
leather-covered glass from one saddlebag, to Gerlich and then to the road
ahead. His lips tighten.
Worried, friend Narliat? You have seen what I can do with the blade and
bow, and they certainly will not be expecting an attack-especially from here.
Gerlich laughs.
Hissl squats on the ground, concentrating on the glass before him, and the
mists that appear. After a time, he rises, wipes his forehead, and repacks the
glass.
Well?
There is no one on the trail. It is narrow, but I could see no tracks and
no horses.
Good. Gerlich turns his mount uphill, and the others follow.
CX
FRIED RODENT, AGAIN, muttered Huldran from beside Nylan. Demon-damned stuff
to put in your guts before smithing.
The rodents serve two saving purposes, answered Ayrlyn with a smile.
Serving them saves other food for the winter, and killing them keeps them
from eating the crops. They like the beans and, for some reason, they want to
dig up the potatoes. So they also serve who are served.
Nylan hastily washed down a mouthful of fried rodent meat. That s a
terrible pun. He followed his comment with a mouthful of cold bread.
Oooo, commented Dyliess from the carrypack Ryba wore.
That s fine, dear, said Ryba, but you re not the one who has to eat it.
Her eyes flicked toward the doorway, again.
Ryba seemed on edge all the time, Nylan reflected, but especially in the
morning, as the days had dragged out since Istril had discovered what seemed
to be Gerlich s back route to the Roof of the World.
How soon, do you think? he asked.
Ayrlyn rubbed her forehead, and Nylan smiled faintly. Thinking about a
battle and all those who would need healing would certainly give any healer a
headache-at least, he thought it would.
The sound of hoofbeats on the paved section of the road from the smithy to
the tower rat - a - tatted in through the open windows to the great room. Ryba
stood, unstrapping the carrypack, even before Liethya burst into the room. The
young guard glanced toward the marshal and then to Fierral, as if uncertain as
to whom she should report.
I presume the traitor has returned, Ryba said, her voice hard as she
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ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
eased Dyliess, still in the carrypack, to Nylan.
There are armsmen on the trail, ser. Liethya s voice trembled slightly.
Fierral stood. So did Saryn. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl ocenkijessi.opx.pl
there s a broken limb that has growth buds that died.
Hryessa nodded.
Anything else? asked Ryba, her eyes circling the table. After a long
silence, she continued. We ll need a place for an outpost-one that can be
watched, but isn t in the canyon itself-and a clear route to get back to the
tower. I want two guards there all the time from now on.
Two?
One to watch, and one to get back the warning to us.
Why don t we just block the canyon?
Because then I don t know where Gerlich will attack from, pointed out
Ryba. Oh& there s a back path from the canyon to the stable-or a way
Gerlich s men will take to try to fire the stables. Find it, and work out the
best place for an ambush. That will be a quick way to take out four of his
armsmen, and they won t be expecting it at dawn.
Fierral and Saryn exchanged glances.
Nylan slipped past the stairs and headed for the north door and the
bathhouse. He hoped that Ryba s visions were correct, but he wasn t about to
Page 250
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
question her, not when her perceptions had been so accurate so far. And this
time, if Gerlich did as she foresaw, there wouldn t be any question of guilt.
CIX
GERLICH HOLDS UP his hand, and the column slows to a halt. The early-morning
mist rises out of the trees to the east of the road that continues to climb as
it turns northward.
All right, Ser Wizard, the big man announces. Get out your glass or
whatever you need, and scout out that trail. He points to a gap between the
trees on the side of the road. I want you to make sure no one is on it.
That s not even a real trail, and it goes right into the mountain,
protests Hissl. What good will that do?
It is a trail, answers Gerlich. I ve scouted it, and it curves through
this slope and rocky ridge and comes out right behind the tower-inside their
watch posts and defenses. And it s close enough so that there s a back way to
their stables. You have the map on that, Nirso. The hunter nods to the squat
armsman riding behind Narliat.
Narliat s eyes flick from the wizard, who dismounts and eases a padded and
leather-covered glass from one saddlebag, to Gerlich and then to the road
ahead. His lips tighten.
Worried, friend Narliat? You have seen what I can do with the blade and
bow, and they certainly will not be expecting an attack-especially from here.
Gerlich laughs.
Hissl squats on the ground, concentrating on the glass before him, and the
mists that appear. After a time, he rises, wipes his forehead, and repacks the
glass.
Well?
There is no one on the trail. It is narrow, but I could see no tracks and
no horses.
Good. Gerlich turns his mount uphill, and the others follow.
CX
FRIED RODENT, AGAIN, muttered Huldran from beside Nylan. Demon-damned stuff
to put in your guts before smithing.
The rodents serve two saving purposes, answered Ayrlyn with a smile.
Serving them saves other food for the winter, and killing them keeps them
from eating the crops. They like the beans and, for some reason, they want to
dig up the potatoes. So they also serve who are served.
Nylan hastily washed down a mouthful of fried rodent meat. That s a
terrible pun. He followed his comment with a mouthful of cold bread.
Oooo, commented Dyliess from the carrypack Ryba wore.
That s fine, dear, said Ryba, but you re not the one who has to eat it.
Her eyes flicked toward the doorway, again.
Ryba seemed on edge all the time, Nylan reflected, but especially in the
morning, as the days had dragged out since Istril had discovered what seemed
to be Gerlich s back route to the Roof of the World.
How soon, do you think? he asked.
Ayrlyn rubbed her forehead, and Nylan smiled faintly. Thinking about a
battle and all those who would need healing would certainly give any healer a
headache-at least, he thought it would.
The sound of hoofbeats on the paved section of the road from the smithy to
the tower rat - a - tatted in through the open windows to the great room. Ryba
stood, unstrapping the carrypack, even before Liethya burst into the room. The
young guard glanced toward the marshal and then to Fierral, as if uncertain as
to whom she should report.
I presume the traitor has returned, Ryba said, her voice hard as she
Page 251
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
eased Dyliess, still in the carrypack, to Nylan.
There are armsmen on the trail, ser. Liethya s voice trembled slightly.
Fierral stood. So did Saryn. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]