"Sara Douglass - Redemption 3 - Crusader" - читать интересную книгу автора (Douglass Sara)

There was a mirror to one side and StarLaughter stood contentedly and preened, smoothing the
material over her body, twisting this way and that in admiration.
How many birdmen had lusted after this body? Wolf Star certainly, and StarLaughter knew that
many other birdmen had wanted her as well. Had she ever indulged any of their lustings?
StarLaughter's brow creased. No. No, she hadn't ... had she? She'd always been true to
WolfStar.
That's why Fate would bind them together again.
StarLaughter laughed, immersed in her beauty and the feel of the robe. WolfStar would not be able
to resist her!
After a few more admiring moments, StarLaughter continued on her way. The corridors and
stairwells were clear this deep in, and she had no trouble finding the basements.
They were dank and cold, but StarLaughter could feel the power that remained here. It was a
residual power, as if the enchantments were fading after whatever they protected had been
removed, but it was enough, and StarLaughter knew that Qeteb, or any of the other Demons, would not
be able to spy her out here.
"It is not a palace fit for me," she observed, but sank down gracefully in the centre of the
chamber, folding her legs underneath her and her wings against her back.
She faced the door, and waited.
And as she waited she allowed herself to further remember, and she laughed very softly,
remembering the first time WolfStar and she had made love.

Many hours passed, and StarLaughter succumbed to her lethargy. She dozed, for how long she could
not tell, but when she came to awareness again, she sensed she was no longer alone.
StarLaughter raised her head and stared toward the door.
A young Icarii birdwoman stood there. She had white wings and fair, translucent skin, but their
beauty was absorbed and murdered by the black gown she wore. She had fine gold hair that curled
about her forehead, violet eyes and a full and sensuous
mouth, but her beauty was spoiled by the expression of sadness that she wore, almost as a cloak over
her depressing robe.
"Hello, StarGrace," StarLaughter said. "I have been expecting you."
StarGrace nodded, but said nothing, and she walked further into the chamber.
She had a peculiar gait, almost as if she were walking on claws rather than feet.
StarLaughter tilted her head to one side and regarded StarGrace. It was a positive sign that
StarGrace appeared so: the Hawkchilds could transform themselves back into a semblance of their
former selves, but generally it did not suit them.
Revenge always required a much darker mien.
But here was StarGrace in at least a semblance of her former self, although StarLaughter could see
she'd left her feet taloned and the material of the robe shifted from feather to cloth with every movement
of the eye. And since StarGrace had returned to her former appearance, that meant only one thing:
StarGrace was willing to talk, and to talk on StarLaughter's terms.
"Qeteb sent you to hunt me down?" StarLaughter said.
"Yes." StarGrace's voice was husky, almost whispery.
"How did you find me?"
"I haunted these corridors, too. Remember?"
 StarLaughter nodded. StarGrace was her niece, daughter of CloudBurst, WolfStar's younger
brother. StarGrace had spent many years in Talon Spike as well, and as a SunSoar, close to the Talon,
she would have known about these basements.
"I knew this would be the only place you could hide," StarGrace continued.
"And yet you did not tell this to Qeteb," StarLaughter said. She wanted to smile — now she knew
she could manipulate the Hawkchilds! — but realised the folly of revealing her triumph too soon, and so