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.processtext.com/abclit.htmlsaw through a haze of smoke and exhaustion-bearded and unkempt, their clothes of worn leather andanimal skins.Hard-looking, they clustered in groups about a serving bar formed of wood planks laidcrosswise on upended ale kegs.Animal pelts and provisions lay stacked behind the counter, and a seriesof small tables with stools sat before it.Oil lamps hung from low-beamed ceiling rafters and cast theirharsh light against the night shadows.With her arms wrapped about Rone, Brin stood silently in the open doorway and waited. They s ghosts! someone muttered suddenly from along the serving counter; and there was a shufflingof feet.A tall, thin man in shirt-sleeves and apron came out from behind the counter, head shaking slowly. Ifthey was dead things, they d have no need to open the door now, would they? They d just walk right onthrough!He crossed to the middle of the room and stopped. What s happened to you, girl?Brin realized suddenly, through the haze of fatigue and pain that assailed her, how they must appear tothese men.They might well have been something brought back from the dead-two worn and raggedthings, their clothing damp and muddied, their faces white with exhaustion, hanging onto each other likestraw-filled scarecrows.A bloodied strip of cloth had been bound about Rone s head, but the rawnessof the wound showed through.On his back, the scabbard that had once held the great broadsword layempty.Her own face was soiled and drawn, and her dark eyes haunted.Spectral apparitions, they stoodframed in the light of the open doorway, swaying unevenly against the night.Brin tried to speak, but no words came out. Here, lend a hand, the tall man called back to the others at the counter, coming forward at once tocatch hold of Rone. Come on now, lend a hand!A brawny woodsman came forward quickly, and the two ushered the Valegirl and the highlander to thenearest table, placing them on the low stools.Rone slumped forward with a groan, his head sagging. What s happened to you? the tall man repeated once again, helping to hold the highlander in place sohe would not fall. This one s burning up with fever!Brin swallowed thickly. We lost our horses in a fall coming down out of the mountains, she lied. Hewas sick before then, but it s grown worse.We walked the riverbank until we found this place. My place, the tall man informed her. I m a trader here.Jeft, draw a couple ales for these two.The woodsman slipped behind the counter to an ale keg and opened the spigot into two tall glasses. How about a free one for the rest of us, Stebb? one of a group of hard-looking men at the fat end ofthe counter called out.The trader shot the man a venomous look, brushed back a patch of thinning hair atop a mostly baldingpate, and turned again to Brin. Shouldn t be in those mountains, girl.There s worse than fever up there.Brin nodded wordlessly; swallowing against the dryness in her throat.A moment later the woodsmanreturned with the glasses of ale.He passed one to the Valegirl, then propped Rone up long enough to seeGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlthat he sipped at the other.The highlander tried to grasp the glass and gulp the harsh liquid down,choking as he did.The woodsman moved the glass away firmly. Let him drink! the speaker at the end of the bar called out again.Another laughed. Naw, it s wasted! Any fool can see he s dying!Brin glanced up angrily.The man who had spoken saw her look and sauntered toward her, his broadface breaking into an insolent grin.The others in the group trailed after, winking knowingly and chuckling. Something the matter, girl? the speaker sneered. Afraid you.?Instantly Brin was on her feet, barely aware of what she was doing as she snatched her long knife fromits sheath and brought it up in front of his face. Now, now, the woodsman Jeft interceded quickly at her side, pushing her gently back. No need forthat, is there?He turned to face the speaker, standing directly before him.The woodsman was a big man, and hetowered over the men who had come down from the end of the counter.The members of the groupglanced at one another uncertainly. Sure, Jeft, no harm meant, the offender muttered.He looked down at Rone. Just wondered aboutthat scabbard.Crest looks like a royal seal of some type. His dark eyes shifted to Brin. Where youfrom, girl?He waited a moment, but Brin refused to answer. No matter. He shrugged.With his friends trailingafter him he moved back down the counter.Gathering close to resume their drinking, they beganconversing in low tones, their backs turned.The woodsman stared after them for a moment, then kneltdown beside Brin. Worthless bunch, he muttered. Camp out west of Spanning Ridge masquerading as trappers.Live bytheir wits and the misfortune of others. Been drinking and wasting time here since morning. The trader shook his head. Always got themoney for the ale, though. He looked at the Valegirl. Feeling a little better now?Brin smiled in response. Much better, thank you. She glanced down at the dagger in her hand. I don tknow what s wrong with me.I don t know what I was. Hush, forget it. The big woodsman patted her hand. You re exhausted.Beside him, Rone Leah moaned softly, his head lifting momentarily, his eyes open and staring into space.Then he slipped down again. I have to do something for him, Brin insisted anxiously. I have to find a way to break the fever.Doyou have anything here that might help?The trader glanced at the woodsman worriedly, then shook his head. I ve not seen a fever as bad asthis one often, girl.I have a tonic that might help.You can give it to the boy and see if it brings the feverout. He shook his head again. Sleep might be best, though.Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlBrin nodded dumbly.She was having trouble thinking clearly, the exhaustion folding in about her as shesat staring down at the dagger.Slowly she slipped it back into its sheath.What had she been thinking shewould do? She had never harmed anything in her entire life.Certainly the man from west of SpanningRidge had been insolent, perhaps even threatening-but had there been any real danger to her? The aleburned warmly in her stomach, and a flush spread through her body.She was tired and strangelyunnerved.Deep within, she felt an odd sense of loss and of slipping. Not much room in here for sleeping, the trader Stebb was saying. There s a tack room in back of thestable I let the help use in the trapping season.You can have that.There s a stove and bed for yourfriend and straw for you. That would be fine, Brin murmured and found to her astonishment that she was crying. Here, here. The burly woodsman put an arm about her shoulders, blocking her away from the view ofthose gathered along the serving counter. Won t do for them to see that, girl.Got to be strong, now.Brin nodded wordlessly, wiped the tears away, and stood up. I m all right. Blankets are out in the shed, the trader announced, standing up with her. Let s get you settled in [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]