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

mind, waiting to violate her sense of well-being. There were neither screeching takataks nor commanding
Kastaks wielding bistons and ill tempers. Askinadon and his dark servants were absent from these
dreams.

Instead, she dreamed of simple things made blissful by their nearly forgotten status. Her head felt
weightless and unburdened, as if a bright light had turned on, dispelling all dark things. Early in the night,
she dreamed of sharing secrets with her sister the way they used to share them-alone and in the forest
together. She could feel Adrella's breath in her ear as her sister divulged the intimate details of a boy's
kiss…was it Banken? Later, she dreamed about Keshun, the boy who had loved her before Askinadon
had him killed. She dreamed of Keshun's arms around her on that day he'd confessed his love. It felt as if
it was happening all over again…the long, lingering embrace mixed with slow words that sighed with
yearning.

These intimate encounters from the days of old-the days before Askinadon-made up the stuff of her
dreams on this night. The small acts, the ones forever unobserved save by the participants, danced in and
out of her procession of images throughout the night. She felt as if the expression of her soul had
resurrected inside her dreaming like the rise of a glittering full moon.
And then, in her final dream of the night, her imagination leapt forward, out of the past. She found herself
riding on the back of a hoshdel as the animal loped through Kiddik Meadow alongside the Hapa River in
the north. A man was sitting behind her, his body pressed against her back. She felt his arms, warm from
the sun, reaching around her to grip the reins. His breath puffed against the side of her face, carrying the
sweet scent of minola. The sensations created from his nearness tickled her and she laughed,
unrestrained. Ne Kamana Ya, she whispered in the old language. I could love you. She twisted around
to see him, but there was no one behind her. Then she heard his voice again, but it was coming from
somewhere else.

"Katera, wake up." Nik. Ya nik rastan…I don't want to. "We have to get ready, Katera. We have a
long ride ahead of us."

What? Katera opened her eyes and blinked into the dimly lit cavern. Mikolen was kneeling beside her.

"Hello," she said, smiling.

"Hello." His voice was soft. "I have saddled and packed a hoshdel for each of us. We must eat and leave
right away. We've a long way to go."

Katera sat up, surprised. "Where are we going?"

"Out of Parallon. To another village on the other side of the Shirkas. We'll head north, first. It's the
quickest…"

"No." Katera was now fully awake. "I'm not leaving Parallon."

"Katera, you must. If you stay, it's just a matter of time before Don…I mean Askinadon finds you again."
He calls him again by that other name , Katera observed. "And it will not go well for you when he
does," Mikolen finished, looking worried.

Katera stood up, stepped off the sleeping pad, and walked to the opposite wall. She stood facing it for a
moment before turning back around. Mikolen had stood and was watching her.