LE Modesitt Recluce 06 Fall of Angels (v1.5)

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Nylan s lips tightened. He didn t like Surba, and the man hadn t even
appeared. Ryba glanced to Nylan. No chaos. Seems honest.
So long as you live by our rules, you may stay. Ryba paused, and then
added, Westwind is not always an easy place, and we already have powerful
enemies- She broke off at the sound of hooves.
Two riders eased their way down the slope. On the lead horse, a black
stallion, rode a burly man dressed in a green shirt and tunic and brown
leather trousers. Behind him rode a thin-faced blond man with a large bow
across his back.
The thin man started to reach for the bow.
I would not touch that bow, not if you wish to live, said Ryba, her voice
carrying across the suddenly silent trail and woods.
The burly man reined in the black stallion, a trace of foam at the edge of
his mouth, and skittering at his rider s rough handling.
Nistayna s my woman, and no mountain women are going to take her away. You
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keep her, and I ll have every man in Linspros here to tear down your fancy
tower. Yes, we ve heard about your tower, and no tower s going to stop us.
That would mean a lot of graves, pointed out Ryba.
Nistayna shivered, but stood straight.
I want my woman back. Now.
You don t own her. Without taking her eyes off Surba, Ryba asked, Do you
wish to return with him?
No. I would die first. The words were soft, but firm. We both would.
Ryba s lips curled. They do not like you much.
They are mine, and they will return with me.
I think not.
Surba looked at the four bows trained on him. Then he looked at Nylan, who
had drawn his blade, but not lifted it. His eyes darted to the blond man, who
shook his head. Finally, he answered Ryba, There are a lot more of you than
us, but we ll be back, and we ll tear that tower down stone by stone.
I see, said Ryba. So you and your friend just rode after this woman, and
I ll bet you didn t even bother to tell anyone where you were going. You just
thought you d ride her down and beat her and take her back. Is that it?
Real men don t have to tell anyone where they re going. He shrugged. All
of Linspros knows me. No one walks on Surba.
I wouldn t think of it, murmured Ryba. She nodded at Berlis, then slowly
took out her throwing blade. She rode forward slowly, stopping a dozen paces
away from the stallion. Do you know what this is?
It s a toy blade.
Ryba smiled, and the blade flashed from her hand.
The burly man slumped over the saddle, tried to straighten up, and finally
did. Bitch& dirty& bitch. The stallion whickered and skittered sideways. &
unfair&
Nistayna s hand went to her mouth, then her arms went around her daughter,
and she turned so the child looked to the forest.
It s so fair to beat someone who can t flee or fight back, murmured the
marshal. So honorable&
The slender hard-faced man took one look at the dying man, ducked to one
side of his mount, and spurred the beast toward the woods.
Get him! Ryba ordered, urging the roan after Pretar.
Fierral nocked and released an arrow. So did the other four guards.
The blond man and the horse went down, the horse screaming.
Nylan s legs felt weak, and he forced himself to remain erect, despite the
white flashes of death that washed over him. He was glad he hadn t been forced
to use his blade, but how often could he avoid it on this frigging brutal
planet?
Damn! muttered Fierral. That was a good horse.
Ryba studied the two corpses before riding back to Nistayna. One always
pays for freedom. Her voice was cold. I hope you will use that freedom
well.
Nistayna looked from the marshal to Nylan.
Angels are not sweet, lady, he added. They are often just and terrible,
and few indeed are strong enough for justice. Even as he spoke, he wondered
how just murdering two men had been.
With a sigh, he walked toward Fierral. Put the bodies on the cart. I ll
take them up to the tower. Then, after I unload, I ll send someone down with
the cart for the horse. Maybe Blynnal can make a few meals out of it.
Nylan glanced from Fierral to Ryba, still seated on the roan. Ryba shifted
her weight in the saddle, and he realized that the ride had been painful for
her.
This was a setup. She answered his unspoken question. Either they
brought her back, and that proved we could be intimidated or taken, or they
came back empty-handed, and set it up for an army. This way, no one knows for [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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