"Sizemore, Susan - Laws of the Blood 3 - Companions" - читать интересную книгу автора (Sizemore Susan)

ISBN: 0-441-00.875-5



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PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA


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For my dear Madison. Much love, March




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Chapter 1
Necessary Evil



The companion is a vampire's property. A vampire may do with a companion as he or she will. It is death to a companion who attempts to harm a vampire.



IN THE LAND BEYOND THE FOREST, 1457



He was a Roma peasant, but the boyars across the campfire were afraid of him. He was not surprised at their fear, but having a pair of nobles in their furs and jewels, with heavy swords on their belts, come humbly into the camp of his familia, did make him curious. Curious or not, he did not make it easy for the boyars by asking them what they wanted. He sat across from them, well back from the fire so that his face was shadowed, and ate roasted chicken in silence while they got up the courage to say what it was they wanted.

The rest of his familia gathered behind the boyars, staring at them. He was aware of the eyes of his people, their thoughts and feelings, always so aware that he had stopped paying much attention to them a long time ago. He knew they feared he'd brought them trouble and hoped that he'd bring them wealth. When strangers had sought him out in the past, he'd always come back with gold. But no one had ever come to him before tonight that was not one of the Roma people.

Finally, one of the boyars tugged on his thick beard and said, "Are you the dhamphir?"

It was his oldest uncle in the crowd standing behind the seated boyars who cackled, and answered, "He'd better be, for he doesn't look like any Roma we've seen before."