"Jane Lindskold - Firekeeper Saga 1 - Through Wolf's Eyes" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lindskold Jane)

The launch of a compellingly original epic of human and animal magic

Through Wolf’s Eyes
Jane Lindskold
Years ago Prince Barden disobeyed his father’s orders and led a colonizing expedition beyond the
boundaries of Hawk Haven, across the mountains and into the wilderness beyond. That was the
last anyone heard of the prince and his followers. Now there’s a problem: one of Barden’s
children, if found alive, could still inherit the throne. Earl Kestrel, an ambitious noble, has
mounted an expedition to find out what became of the colonists—and, perhaps, persuade some of
them to come back.

They don’t find Barden’s colony. Young Firekeeper, a strange, feral young lady, finds them. She’s
just the right age to be one of Barden’s children, and her sole possessions—aside from the crudely
prepared furs she wears—are some flint stones for striking fire and Prince Barden’s own knife.

Firekeeper only vaguely remembers a time when she didn’t live with her “family,” a pack of royal
wolves. They’re bigger, stronger, and smarter than normal wolves, and speak a language that
Firekeeper has also learned as she’s grown up with them. Now the wolves who lead her pack tell
her they’re sending her back to live among the humans. They promised this to her mother long
ago, and now they must honor their promise—though if Firekeeper finds she doesn’t care for the
humans, they add, she can always just come home and be a wolf again. But for now she has to
give it a try.

Thus it is that one fine morning Firekeeper walks into Earl Kestrel’s encampment. She’s wary.
They’re astonished. They’d be even more astonished if they knew her beloved best friend, the wolf
called Blind Seer, sits watching, just outside the clearing. He’s planning to come along with
Firekeeper, for the adventure and to keep her company. The men of the expedition decide to call
her Lady Blysse, after Barden’s young daughter, and set out on the long journey back to Hawk
Haven.

Firekeeper and Blind Seer will have much to contemplate in the months to come. The process of
learning to behave like a human will turn out to be more complicated than she’d ever imagined.
Firekeeper/Blysse will find herself entangled in intrigues, plots both foul and fair, as the
long-smoldering question of royal succession finally bursts into flame. And yet, while human ways
may be stranger than anything found in the forest, their infighting is nothing Firekeeper hasn’t
seen before…

This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this novel are either fictitious or are
used fictitiously.

For Jim, with Love

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I’d like to thank several people for their help during the development of this book. Christie Golden’s
eloquent discussion of some aspects of characterization remained with me as I developed certain
characters. Phyllis White of Flying Coyote Books supplied numerous valuable references on wolves. Jim
Moore was once again my priceless first reader and constant sounding board. Kay McCauley, Jan and
Steve Stirling, David Weber and Sharon Rice-Weber never let me give up. Sally Gwylan helped me to
conquer time and error. Last, but not at all least, Patrick and Teresa Nielsen Hayden provided thoughtful