"Karl Edward Wagner - Cold Light" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wagner Karl Edward)

more or less responsible for central authority in Sebbei. This
Gavein could likely be found at Jethrann's tavern. Directions to
Jethrann's tavern had been given with the provincial assumption
that a stranger knew his way through the city to begin with.
Sebbei was an old city, laid out in chaotic growth, and its narrow
streets were disturbingly labyrinthian.
After several wrong turns and unenlightening inquiries, they
came upon a brown haired girl seated under a tree. She seemed to
be asleep, for she failed to notice them until the riders drew close.
Then her head snapped toward their approach, face wild in an
uncanny wide-eyed look of fright.
"By Thoem—at least here's somebody that doesn't have both
feet in the grave!" smiled Dron Missa appreciatively. "Hey, Miss!
Care to help some bone dry travellers find a cool place to rest?
We're looking for a tavern—Jethrann's place."
The girl rose to her feet and began to back away from them,
her face oddly contorted in fear. Gaethaa spoke quietly in
reassuring tones, explaining that he and his men were strangers
passing through Sebbei, that they...
She turned from them and broke into a run. As she dashed
from the shade, sunlight caught the flash of tanned limbs beneath
her short dress of green trimmed brown suede. Hooves struck the
earth in faster rhythm. Mocking laughter overtook her. Defiance
edging her squeal of fright, the girl was jerked from the street by
a bronzed arm and swung onto a saddle.
Mollyl laughed as he pinioned her lashing arms against her
side. "Cut it, sweetheart!" he grinned. "Young girl like you must
be real lonely here with all these dried up old scarecrows! Is that
why you shy away when you see a real man, sweetheart? Maybe
I could teach you the right way to say hello to a stranger."
"All right, Mollyl! We don't want to frighten her any more than
we have already!" Gaethaa growled. "Stop squirming, child!
We're only trying to get directions to Jethrann's tavern. Please
forgive my men's lapse of breeding—we meant no harm to you.
Now can you please tell us the way?"
Fear still lined her features, but her struggles grew less.
Helplessly she perched on the saddle edge, crushed against
Mollyl's hard chest, "It isn't far," she answered haltingly. "Keep
on down this street maybe half a mile. You can begin to see the
market square on down to your left then. The tavern is on the
square."
"My thanks, child," Gaethaa returned. "We were on the right
track at least. Guess our preconception of a market square
doesn't fit this ghost town."
The girl wriggled hopefully, seeking to slip away. The
expression of unaccountable fear still marred her face. Cereb
Ak-Cetee grunted curiously and leaned toward her, peering at her
face. Frowning in puzzlement he moved his long fingers before
her eyes. She drew away with a shudder when his hand brushed
her flesh. The wizard examined her speculatively.