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

strong army - Huge, weatherworn veterans of many battles, known only as
the Black League. They are hunted, haunted in their world. Outlawed by
all kingdoms around them. For when they sign a contract, they stick to it,
no matter what - Honor: duty above all - But their world is now nothing
but enemies to them. And she sees that they have a new contract, on
another world - Signed with Lord Crow.
Pulling back, looking at his face, knowing his mind is not with her, she
sighed and sat back in the water. Picking up the softly scented soap, she
began her bath.
Dressed in a simple dark blue robe, she stood on the landing over
looking the great hall. All day, she had watched the army gather through
her window, then, as night fell, she saw the many campfires. The Crow had
given a feast again tonight. She had known it was for morale, but she
hadn’t felt like attending. Looking down now on the empty hall, the
Stormcrow outside walking the walls one last time, she wondered what
tomorrow will bring. Climbing the stairs to the parapet once more, she
stood and looked over the firelit scene below fear a familiar knot beneath
her breast.
A soft whisper. She looked up. There, perched on the tower wall, sat the
Crow. He fluttered down to land on her shoulder, but even as the familiar
warmth touched her, she sensed his mind is out there, watching the
enemy camp. Reaching up absently to stroke his feathers, she let her mind
wander farther a field, lightly touching minds here and there, slipping
away as quietly and quickly as she slipped into them. From mind to mind
she flitted, finding a wide array of emotions.
Smiling, feeling her powers and relishing them, the crow whispered,
"Want to play?"
Drawing her mind back and shifting her attention , she turned her head
and kissed the Crow. "I always want to play with you, Lord."
Laughing, his beak stroked her cheek. "Not quite what I meant, my
deer. That army's been on the march for three weeks, just to get here.
Tomorrow they'll have to start building siege towers and other siege
weapons, destroying my forest! I just don't think they should get much
sleep tonight, do you?" She turned back to the survey the camp below, her
face hardening. "Your forest? No, I don't think I can let them do that."
Eyes narrowing, she stared at the flickering fires. A sudden gust of wind
swept through the camp causing fires to leap to new life, following in its
wake a shrill piercing shriek arose.
Stunned for a moment, his mind reached back to the camp. Watching
as the horses run, fleeing the heat of the enlarged campfires, smiling, a
grim light in his eyes, his magic joined hers and the campfires danced,
moving on their own, but not to hurt anyone. Just towards the supply
wagons, burning them one by one. Watching in dark satisfaction, she
reached further and touched the minds of the maddened horses,
magnifying their terror and directing it toward the humans. She sent
them racing into the night, swerving and changing directions to avoid all
humans.
Smiling, Lord Crow whistled. She heard the chuckles of the men on the
walls, then the loud thwop of the arrow catapults, three weapons of the
crow's design - One hundred arrows flew off into the encampment. Not a