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.Someone watching might think we were up to something."She jumped inside.Keeping her back to the window, she walked forward, the knife held in front of her.She could feel her arms and legs trembling like plucked harp strings, and her breath seemed very loud in her ears.The room beyond was a wreck.Round walls and a domed ceiling, it seemed—much like Menduarthis's dwelling had—to be more of a cave molded from the rock of the mountain.Shelves lined the wall to her left, each crammed full with bits of clothing, old boots, weapons, jewelry, brass lamps, scrolls, books and pieces of books, and many things Hweilan couldn't identify.Piles of similar items lay around the room,on tabletops, on the floor, and more bundles of sackcloth or net hung from the ceiling, every one packed full.Menduarthis, a thin trickle of blood dripping down his chin, stood in front of the far door.Roakh, his mouth a mess of blood and broken teeth, one side of his face already swelling, stood pressed against the far wall, his breath coming in ragged gasps."Treachery!" Roakh screamed, and it came out more of a croak than a cry."You know what happens to traitors here.Kunin Gatar will flay you for this.""Perhaps," said Menduarthis."But not today.Today, you will give us what we want.""I'll tell you where he is," said Roakh."Just.don't hurt me anymore.""Where who is?" said Menduarthis."Lendri.Please! He's.he's still alive.The queen ordered him taken to the Thorns.She wants him to die where Miel Edellon died."Menduarthis pursed his lips and nodded, taking this in."Very nice," he said."But that's not why we're here, old crow."Roakh's eyes widened."What.do you want?" "Hweilan here has come for her things," said Menduarthis."Her father's bow."Hweilan nodded."I want it."Menduarthis smiled down on Roakh, and a shiver went down Hweilan's spine.It was the first time she had seen such an expression from him: pure, undisguised, joyful malice."I think you know what / have come for, old crow."Roakh pushed himself away from the wall and into a crouch, his limbs trembling with fury and pain.He glared at Menduarthis a long moment, then said, "Why?"Menduarthis shrugged."Why not?"Roakh leaped at Hweilan.His form blurred and twisted to wings, feathers, and long, sharp claws, aiming for Hweilan's face.Menduarthis flicked his wrist and thrust an open palm at Roakh.Wind roared through chamber, blowing scrolls off shelves, ripping pages from books, and setting the dangling nets and bundles to swaying.But one directed current of air struck Roakh full force and smashed him into an upper shelf.Hweilan winced at the sound of cracking wood and bone, then Roakh, shocked back into his elflike form again, hit a table below, smashing it beneath him and scattering jewels and coins all over the floor."Best not try that again," said Menduarthis."Hollow bird bones break so easily."Roakh lay writhing atop the smashed table, clutching at his right side and moaning."You broke my arm, you--" The rest of Roakh's rant faded into a long string of words in another language that Hweilan was quite sure were curses."Give the lady her bow," said Menduarthis as he walked over to stand over Roakh.He bent down and began to stuff his pockets with jewels and coins."Be good, and I'll leave you tied and gagged in one of your nets.Continue being.difficult, and—well, have you ever seen an old wineskin filled with too much wine? Imagine what would happen if the air in your wretched frame did the same thing."Menduarthis stood and twirled his fingers in an intricate pattern, and Hweilan felt a breeze waft through the room.Roakh gasped—No, not a gasp.Air was rushing into his lungs, very much against his will.He clamped his jaws shut, then pressed his unbroken hand across his nose.His eyes widened with fear, and tears leaked down the sides of his face."I can shove it in through your ears," said Menduarthis, "though we won't be able to continue our conversation once all the little bones in there get shoved down your throat.So give"—he kicked Roakh in the ribs once, a rib cracking under the blow—"the girl"—another kick, and Roakh dropped thehold on his nose—"what"—another kick, this one aimed at Roakh's knee—"she wants!""Ah!" Roakh screamed."Stop! Stop, please! I'll do it."Menduarthis stopped his assault and dropped his hands to his sides."Just.just help me up," said Roakh."I'll, ah!" He winced in pain."I'll get them.""No," said Menduarthis."You point, and we'll get them."Roakh glared at him.Menduarthis raised one hand again, his fingers already twirling again."No!" Roakh screamed.He pointed in Hweilan's direction."Under the pile! There!"She turned.Shoved up against the wall not far from the hallway was a jumble of cloaks, clothes, and what looked like an old tapestry."Careful, Hweilan," said Menduarthis."This one's a trickster."She peeled back and tossed aside the thick fabrics with the tip of her knife.At first there were just more of the same, then she came across a long tassel, a bit of rope that looked fit only for burning, then under an old leather jerkin was a familiar bundle.One of Lendri's belt pouches.The larger one.She grabbed it and opened it.Inside was a whetstone, bowstrings, arrowheads, a few wooden phials stopped with tightly rolled felt, and a ring.Not gold.Darker and redder.More like copper, with darker etchings all around it.The ring he had used to summon the fire for Scith's pyre.She closed the pouch and tucked it under her belt.Digging through more clothes and another bit of tapestry, she found her old knife and her father's bow.She gasped with relief, tears welling in her eyes.She slipped the knife into her boot, sheathed the new blade Menduarthis had given her, and cradled the bow to her chest.Standing and turning to face Menduarthis, she wiped the tears from her eyes."It's here.Everything I need.""Good." Menduarthis looked down on Roakh."Now, back to business."He raised his hand, his fingers twirling, and Roakh's eyes went wide [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]