"C. S. Friedman - Coldfire 2 - When True Night Falls" - читать интересную книгу автора (Friedman C. S)

come off. But there is one more thing . . ."

He placed his fingers upon her eyes, touching the inner
corners. Her cry of pain was short and ragged, and it
seemed to burst loose some dam inside her. When he
withdrew from her, there was blood in her eyes in the place
of the inner membrane, and tears also. She began to shake
uncontrollably. "That's all," Tarrant assessed. Oblivious to
her suffering.

"If she's careful she should pass." He nodded, clearly
pleased with his work. "You may release her now."

Carefully, Damien loosened her bonds. Gently he folded
her bruised wrists across her chest and gathered her up in
his arms, as he would a child. She moaned softly and
pressed her face against his chest, burying herself in his
warmth. He wished he had a third hand, that he might
stroke her with. He wished he had something to say that
could ease the pain, or lessen the humiliation of her
disfigurement. But all he could whisper was, "It's all right."
All he could think to say was, "We'll get him, Hesseth.
We'll kill the one who started all this. I swear it."

Carefully, tenderly, he carried her out of the Hunter's
lair, and up into the healing night.

It was midnight when Tarrant left, A bright night, with
Domina's full disk and Casca's three-quarter face lighting
the sky. A brisk night, with uneasy waves that trembled
white at their upper edges, as if undecided about whether or
not to break into froth. But Tarrant had assured them that
the wind would grow no worse for an hour at least -
although how he knew that without the earth-fae to draw on
was beyond Damien - and so they were setting sail despite
it. Or setting oars, more accurately.

Damien strained to make out the form of an island to the
east of them, but could see only water. Which didn't mean
it wasn't there, of course. He had the utmost faith in Rasya's
observations, and if she said there was an island due east of
them he wouldn't think to doubt it. Ever.

An island. That meant land, cresting above the waves.
 Earth-fae.

Beneath them the lifeboat struck water, with the deep,
resounding slap of a nuwhale's tail. Rasya swung herself
over the side of the ship and began to clamber down toward
it. Damien briefly considered insisting that he take her