"Dan Parkinson. The Gates of Thorbardin ("DragonLance Saga Heroes II" #2) (angl)" - читать интересную книгу автора "Who's to know what a dream means?" he had sighed.
"I've had dreams, too, Chane. But that's all they were. Just dreams." It had been worse when he told Slag Firestoke what he wanted to do. Old Firestoke was not fond of him anyway and was not happy about an empty-pursed orphan spending time with his daughter. It had been Jilian's idea to tell her father about Chanc's premonitions, in the hope that Firestoke might outfit him for his quest. He didn't need much. Just warm clothing, arms and provisions, and a few of Firestoke's hirelings to accompany him. "Thorbardin is in jeopardy," Chane had told him. "I know it, and in dreams I've been told that I must find the key to save it." "Dreams!" Firestoke had rumbled, glaring at him. 'You're daft as a warren-bat." "I know I'm right," Chane had insisted. "I don't know exactly what I'm to find, but I'll know when I find it." Firestoke had laughed at that, a cruel, victorious laugh, "So you come to me for money? Well, you can wait until your whiskers rust. You won't see a brass coin from me, Chane Feldstone. Now get out of my house ...and stay away from my daughter! She'll have better than the likes of you." mind. At the time, Chane believed that Jilian had per- suaded him... and Jilian had believed it, too. The cat sounds were closer now, momentarily hesitant while the big beast tasted the air. Chanc clung to his braced position and felt chill beads of sweat among his whiskers. She probably still believes it, he thought. How would she know that her father's villains accompanied me to the edge of the wilderness, then waylaid me? They had beaten and pummeled him, enjoying the sport. They had taken his weapons, his coins, his boots, his warm clothing. Everything that Firestoke had pro- vided, they took - and everything else he had, as well. "Don't come back to Thorbardin," they'd told him. "Our sponsor doesn't want to ever see you again." And they had harried his trail, to make sure he didn't turn back. Day after miserable, hungry day they had fol- lowed him, until he had crossed beyond Thorbardin's realm into the wild lands. Hunger weakened him, and he felt his braced arms trembling. The purring rumble of the great cat was very near, just beyond the final bend in the chasm. He took a deep breath. "Come on, you blasted cat," Chanc said aloud. "Come kitty-kitty-kitty, you tarnish-pitted carni- |
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