[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

 Derian Carter, Mistress, he said, wishing he didn t feel so tongue-tied.
Sapphire was as different from
Elise as night from day, but no less captivating.  I work for Earl Kestrel.
 That s right, she said.  I remember you now, the red-haired youth who tends
Lady Blysse.
Derian privately approved of her presence of mind. He d heard her call
Firekeeper a few more uncomplimentary things when she thought no one was
listening. A crunching of boots on grass and a detached star of lantern light
announced Jared Surcliffe s return.
 Valet was awake, he said,  and had hot water on to make some tea to bring
the earl. I borrowed some. Now, Mistress Sapphire, if I could attend to your
wounds.
Inventory and treatment of their various cuts and bruises took some time.
Sapphire, thanks to sword and shield, had escaped with mostly minor injuries,
but a knife slash that had gotten through her guard and sliced the fabric of
her shirt on her right side looked nasty. She also had countless bruises and
nicks on her hands caused by wielding her sword and shield without gloves.
Derian had several small nicks of his own, none impressive, but all painful.
His head ached abominably.
Doc had escaped virtually unscathed.
 Mistress Shield, Doc explained unashamed,  came to my rescue.
 After you came to mine, she reminded him.  Again, thank you both.
Jared produced a flask of good brandy from one of his pockets.
 The lady can use the cap for a cup, he explained, pouring.  I also suspect
that Valet will be here with the tea tray momentarily. Don t worry, Mistress
Sapphire. He ll never say a word to anyone not even
Earl Kestrel the soul of discretion, our Valet.
Sapphire accepted the cup gratefully and passed the flask to Derian.
 It doesn t matter overmuch, she said.  My mother will know and that s
enough.
Derian swigged directly from the flask before passing it back to Jared. The
strong liquor cleared his head and made him instantly bolder.
 If you don t mind my asking, Mistress Sapphire, but how did you come to be
out there alone? You ve never struck me as one to take foolish risks.
 I appreciate that, she said.  I& I went out with my brother, Jet. I wanted
to see something of the town and everyone else was going somewhere
interesting. Jet didn t want me to go with him, but I convinced him that I had
as much right as he did to enjoy myself.
 He let me come with him I guess since he couldn t stop me but I soon
understood why Jet didn t want me around. His plan was to get drunk and then& 
It was dark, but in the lantern light they could see her glance down in
embarrassment.
Doc cut in,  We understand, Mistress.
Derian thought he sounded offended. Doubtless Sapphire would believe he was
offended for her, which couldn t hurt, but Derian suspected Doc s indignation
was for Jet s insult to Elise.
 As soon, Sapphire continued,  as Jet got drunk enough, he ditched me. I
wandered around a bit and found myself in that poky little street. Those men
jumped me.
 A good thing you had your sword and shield, Derian said, allowing a slight
Page 160
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
questioning note to enter his voice.
 Luck, came the blunt reply.  I had scarred the paint on my shield during our
journey here. The armorer had white paint with him, but not silver. I decided
to see what someone in the town could do& 
Ruefully, she looked at the newly battle-scarred shield. The delicate silver
work was scored in multiple places and there was a large dent the size of a
man s head.
 I understand better now, she said, false cheer in her voice,  why white is a
preferable substitute for silver, at least for in the field. I shall make the
change tomorrow and keep the silver field for show.
They toasted her choice and as they did so Valet shimmered up rather like
magic with tea, cookies, and fruit neatly arranged on a tray. He set this on
the rock behind Derian and vanished again.
 A remarkable man, Sapphire said.  May I pour?
 Please do, Doc replied.
 What I would like to know, Derian asked the listening night,  is how
Firekeeper happened to be there when we needed her.
Firekeeper stepped from the darkness. Blind Seer, his fur slightly damp, was
with her.
 Tea? Sapphire asked the newcomer, unable to keep a slightly frosty note out
of her voice.  I see that the remarkable Valet has supplied a fourth cup.
 Thank you, Firekeeper said, accepting the proffered cup and hunkering down
on her haunches.
 How did you happen to be there, Firekeeper? Jared prompted.
 I follow, the wolf-woman said,  practicing cities. It isn t too hard at
night once the people go inside, but in the crowds& 
She ended with an eloquent shudder.
 And Blind Seer?
 He stay in the narrow places between buildings mostly, she said.  Is there a
word, Derian?
 Alley, he supplied automatically.  Why didn t you join us sooner?
 You were doing so well, she said with a fey grin.  I not want to hurt your
fun. Then the man you fight hit you in the head& 
 Is that what happened! he muttered, remembering how everything had gotten
dreamy.
 And Mistress Sapphire was giving a good fight to her man, so we came to
help.
 We? Derian asked carefully, remembering the nightmare vision of the bandit
with his throat torn out, of
Firekeeper s face smeared with blood.
 Blind Seer kill the man, Firekeeper said with indignant self-righteousness.
 You tell me this not a thing to do!
Sapphire had softened at Firekeeper s compliment to her skill.  Were you
hurt? she asked, refreshing
Firekeeper s tea.
 No. Firekeeper looked almost disappointed.  I not get to fight.
Sapphire looked at her own dented shield, at the bandages on her side and
hands.  It isn t nearly as much fun as it looks.
Jared and Derian nodded agreement. The wolf-woman did not seem at all
convinced and the great shaggy beast at her side opened his fanged jaws in
what Derian could swear was laughter.
BARON IVON ARCHER HAD TAKEN FULL ADVANTAGE of his rank to insist upon a good
position for the Archer pavilion, although he himself would be splitting his
time between his command and numerous conferences, returning there only to
sleep. Given her strained relations with both Sapphire and
Jet Shield, Elise had ample reason to be grateful for this.
Along the road, she and Ninette had shared a fairly small tent pitched between
her father s tent and Aunt
Page 161
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Zorana s. It was a very proper arrangement, one that offered some protection
from Jet s increasingly impatient advances, but one that also guaranteed that
she would hear every noise in the surrounding tents.
Her father, she discovered, snored as did his manservant. Aunt Zorana insisted
on being sung to sleep by her maid. Ninette rose repeatedly during the night
to answer nature s call. After these intrusions, Elise felt a certain guilty
pleasure that the heir to a barony could command not only room for a large
pavilion, but a certain degree of space surrounding it. Ninette still
chaperoned her and Elise was glad for her company but at least with her on
the other side of a curtain Elise was not so aware of the other woman s
nocturnal micturitions.
On the first morning following their arrival, Elise woke after the sun had
risen. She was trying to guess the hour by the position of the sun shining
through the pavilion s canvas when Ninette lifted the dividing curtain and
peeped around it. The other woman s eyes were shining with excitement and
Elise was certain she had some interesting gossip.
 Good morning, Ninette. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

zanotowane.pl

doc.pisz.pl

pdf.pisz.pl

ssaver.htw.pl