"Ann Durand - Flight of the Gryphon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Durand Ann)

"Um, yeah." He did not elaborate.

"Okay." She sounded mildly confused. "You have an interesting wardrobe. I've never seen anything like
what you're wearing. What is it made from?"

"Just cotton. Cotton pants and a shirt," he mumbled, sitting down at the table.

Katera looked at him curiously as she set the bowls down and joined him on the opposite side. They ate
in silence, stealing glances at each other and looking away when their eyes met. When they had finished,
Mike offered her some more, but she declined.

"Well then," he said, looking at a barrel on the floor next to the wall, "how about a little of my own special
brew?"

"Really? What is it?"

"It's wine. I made it from the fruit of the hummel plant," he said, moving toward the barrel.

"The hummel…oh, yes, a small fruit. They grow in bunches. They're very sweet when they're ripe."

"Right." He poured a sample of the drink into a small, clay mug. "It reminds me a lot of the grape we have
back home."

Katera paused. "Where is home, Mikolen?"

Mike raised his head to look at her. "Not in these caves, that's for sure," he said, avoiding the question.
He returned his attention to the wine, filled the second mug and carried both to the table, handing one to
Katera. She held it under her nose and sniffed.

"Oh! That's minola," she stated. "My father makes it, but he uses the fruit of the peras. It's like the
hummel plant, only much bigger and lighter in flavor."

"Okay, minola then." Mike raised his mug for a toast. Katera stared at his elevated arm with a blank
look. "You're supposed to tap your mug against mine, then one of us says something for good luck."

Katera raised her mug, her dark eyes glittering with amusement. Could she get any more appealing? If
only he didn't need to get off this godforsaken planet; there might be something worth pursuing here, but
no. Mentally, he pinched himself, remembering his mission.

"Something for good luck?" She repeated. "Okay, how about…may the towers of Askinadon crumble
into dust."

Yeah, sure, crumbling towers would work, but not before he'd finished with the project, of course.

"Hear, hear," he said, clinking his mug against hers and lifting it to his lips.

Katera took a measured sip from her mug, while Mike downed a long draft.

"Mm," she exclaimed, sounding surprised. "This is so sweet. And the flavor…much stronger than minola.
It's good."