"Beverly Henderson - Stormcrow and The Deer" - читать интересную книгу автора (Henderson Beverly)

climbing the steps slowly, unwillingly, wishing she had made just one
more night - knowing that it was too late to go back, she stopped just
behind his shoulder.
Looking out over the activities of the army beyond the walls, he turned
to her, kissing her lips lightly. "They will not attack today. They cannot.
See, they start to build their machines now - the siege towers, the
catapults, cutting down my forest to do so!”
"Damn! But," he sighed, a hatred growing in his eyes, “it is important
that she loses very little here, for she must be able to stall the Kahn's army
here for a while!"
Looking down at the queen's army, she said soberly. "T'would be best if
she lost nothing here at all. Nor you. T'would be best if she fought an army
of illusion when she did attack."
He looked at her, his eyes lighting up, thinking. “We still have a day. All
could have escaped except you and I. Illusion will still kill. After all, if you
believe a sword is in your heart, you will die. But less will die! You and I
will have to keep the illusion going for at least two days. Then word of the
Kahn's army should reach here!”
Laughing, he whistled loudly, a note of joy in the tone. The trumpeter
above them blew a series of notes and the scene in the courtyard changed
from one of waiting to one of movement.
Looking into his eyes, she drew herself up. "I can do the illusion by
myself, Lord. It will be outrageously easy. The woman out there fears you
much more than she fears the Khan. She already believes that she cannot
defeat you." Smiling, he looked deep into her eyes, "I know you can. You
and I both have been abusing the time stream far too much as of late! But,
there is something the Queen must lose here - And that is my job!"
Laughing again, he turned and walking down the steps, yelling out to
Abby and Mari that they'd better have the bath ready.
The castle was quietly abustle. Her mind became aware of a great
underground waterway, a stream that led through underground passages
to a huge waterfall far from the castle. Many boats were even now taking
off, hidden from prying eyes. As she watched the Crow sink into the hot
water, steam rising from his body. She closed her mind to the bustle of the
rapidly emptying castle and to the Stormcrow himself, and slipped into
the bath next to him.
Smiling, his hand reached out, touching her cheek. “The Queen's army
must fight your illusion for two days - starting tomorrow. But the Wizard's
Council, which travels with her, must be, uh, distracted. Perhaps even
destroyed, or the illusion will not stand, and her army will leave here too
soon, allowing the Kahn to march over her with no shelter. This castle
becomes her last stand! We must allow her the chance, but without magic!
The Kahn is protected from magic. It only empowers him. Therefore the
Council must be gone from here before he arrives. That is my job!"
Smiling, his hand caressed her neck, as he leaned toward her. Then he
pulled back, sensing her closed mind. Looking at him, she slipped closer to
him in the water, knowing that she needed to distract him from his
thoughts in order to protect her decision. She reached for him, letting her
hands slide over his wet chest.
Kissing her, his lips tasted hers, his mind still open, floating. She saw a