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."Where the hell else does he think I'm gonna go?" muttered Roland.He keptglancing back, over his shoulder."What was that? Over there?"All of them turned fearfully, stared.Page 103ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"Nothing! Just the wind," said Paithan, after a moment."Don't do that, Roland!" Rega snapped."You nearly scared me to death."Paithan was eyeing the barricade."That won't keep them out, you know.""Yes, it will!" whispered Rega, twining her fingers with the elf's."It hasto!"A head and shoulders appeared, looking at them over the barricade.The headwas encased in brown, highly polished, tyro-shell armor, matching armorgleamed on the shoulders."You say these people are from the village?" the armored head asked thebalding one next to it."Yes.Two of them.Not the dwarf and the elf-""But the elf is a weapons dealer.Very well.Let them inside.Bring them toheadquarters."The armored head left.There was a momentary delay, barrels and crates had tocome down, carts had to be pushed aside.Finally the wooden gates swung openonly far enough to permit the four to squeeze their bodies through.The stockydwarf, encased in his heavy leather armor, got stuck in the middle and Rolandwas forced to push him through from behind, while Paithan pulled from thefront.The gate was swiftly shut behind them."You're to go see Sir Lathan," instructed Harald, jerking a thumb at the inn.Several armored knights could be seen pacing about, testing their weapons, orclustered in groups, talking, keeping themselves aloof from the crowd ofworried townspeople."Lathan?" said Rega, lifting her eyebrows."Reginald's younger brother? Idon't believe it!""Yeah, I didn't think we were worth that much to him," added Roland."Reginald who?" asked Paithan.The three moved toward the inn, the dwarffollowing, staring around him with his dark, shadowed gaze."Reginald of Terncia.Our liege lord.Apparently he's sent a regiment ofknights down here under his little brother's command.I guess they figure onstopping the tytans here, before they reach the capital.""It may not be those.those creatures that brought them," said Rega,shivering in the bright sunlight."It could be anything.A raid by theSeaKings.You don't know, so just shut up about it!"She stopped walking, stared at the inn, the people milling about, frighteningthemselves and each other."I'm not going in there.I'm going home to.to.wash my hair." Rega flung her arms around Paithan's neck, stood on hertiptoes, and kissed him on the lips."I'll see you tonight," she saidbreathlessly.He tried to stop her, but she left too quickly, practically running, shovingher way through the milling crowd."Perhaps I should go with her-"Roland put his hand on the elf's arm."Just leave her alone.She's scared,scared as hell.She wants time to get a grip on herself.""But I could help her-""No, she wouldn't like that.Rega's got a lot of pride.When we were kids, andMa'd beat her till the blood ran, Rega never let anyone see her cry.Besides,I don't think you've got a choice."Roland gestured to the knights.Paithan saw that they had ceased theirdiscussions and were staring straight at him.The human was right, if the elfleft now, they would think he was up to no good.He and Roland continued their walk toward the inn, Drugar tramping noisilybehind them.The town was in chaos, some hurrying toward the barricade,weapons in their hands, others hurrying away from it, families moving out,abandoning their homes.Suddenly Roland stepped in front of him, halting himwith outstretched arm.Paithan was forced to either back up or run the mandown.Page 104ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"See here, Quindiniar, after we talk to this knight and we convince him thatyou aren't in league with the enemy, why don't you just head out for home.alone.""I won't leave without Rega," said Paithan quietly.Roland squinted up at him, smiled."Oh? You going to marry her?"The question caught Paithan by surprise.He firmly intended to answer yes buta vision of his older sister rose up before him."I.I-""Look, I'm not trying to protect Rega's 'honor.' We never had any, either ofus; couldn't afford it.Our ma was the town whore.Rega's done her share ofbed hopping, but you're the first man she's ever cared about.I won't let herget hurt.You understand?""You love her very much, don't you?"Roland shrugged, turned abruptly, and resumed walking."Our ma ran off when Iwas fifteen.Rega was twelve.All we had left was each other.We've made ourown way in this world, never asking help from anybody.So you just clear offand leave us alone.I'll tell Rega you had to go on ahead to see about yourfamily.She'll be hurt some, but not as much as if you.well.youknow.""Yes, I know," said Paithan.Roland's right.I should leave, leaveimmediately, go on by myself.This relationship can come to nothing butheartache.I know that, I've known it from the beginning.But I never feltabout any woman the way I feel about Rega!Paithan's desire ached and burned inside him.When she'd said that aboutseeing him tonight, when he'd looked into her eyes and seen the promise there,he hadn't thought he could bear it.He could hold her tonight, sleep with hertonight.And leave tomorrow?So I'll take her with me tomorrow.Take her home, take her to.Calandra [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]