[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.The throbbing in herhead made it difficult to formulate any coherent thoughts, and she cradled her head in her hands.Benjinoffered her food, but she refused.Her appetite had fled, and only pain and misery filled its place.As much as she would have liked to sleep, though, she remained awake and restless.Obscure fears andanxieties nagged at her, and she was helpless against them.Would the Zjhon capture them? Would Chase survive his quest for a ship? Did Ohmahold standany chance against the encroaching siege? The uncertainty gnawed at her, and she felt responsible for toomany lives--too many futures.Her confidence waned, and she wondered how she could have been sofoolish as to act on her ridiculous plan.There was little chance of success and an even smaller chance ofsurvival.Her mind tormented her with all the possible ways she could die.Fires scorched her skin, axescleaved her, swords severed limbs, and arrows pierced her flesh.Unable to contain her pain, she wept, and Benjin pulled her close.With his powerful arms aroundher, she felt almost safe; he would keep the horrors at bay.Still, it took her far too long to find sleep,which she knew she would regret on the morrow.* * *Rolling into a tucked position, Chase hesitated only a moment before he sprang.He took threesteps then launched himself into the air, tumbling and swinging at the same time.The crack of the impactechoed off the mountains, and Captain Longarm dropped to one knee, clutching his thigh."I'm going to feel that in the morning," he said."Sorry," Chase said."You've gotten better, but I'm getting too old to take that kind of beating, maybe one of yourfriends will spar with you," Captain Longarm said, pointing to where Strom and Osbourne stood talkingto a pair of girls who'd come to watch the spectacle."Oh no.Not me.No, sir," Strom said as they approached."You'll have to find someone else tobeat on.My hands are my trade.""Your trade, huh? I thought you were going to be a stable hand the rest of your life," Chase said."You heard me.I'm to be a great smith.Perhaps, if you're nice to me, I'll make you a realsword.""Don't look at me," Osbourne said as Captain Longarm turned a questioning gaze to him."I'mstill sore from last time.""I suppose you're just going to have to find a real enemy to take your frustrations out on, youngman," Captain Longarm said, and he turned to leave."Thanks for everything, Burrel.Sorry about the bruises," Chase said, but Captain Longarm justwaved his apology off.Still breathing hard, Chase sat on a nearby stump and regained his breath.Therewas no excuse for his hitting Burrel as hard as he had, but he could not stand waiting any longer.Asfoolish as he thought Catrin's plans were, he was still determined to do his part, and soon he would leavethe shelter of Ohmahold; he needed to be ready.For today, though, all he could do was wait."I see you no longer fly like a stone," said a familiar voice from behind him."Perhaps you couldshow me how to defend myself against unwanted advances.""Certainly, Winnette," he said."First let me show you a proper defensive stance."Perhaps waiting wouldn't be so terrible after all. Chapter 16Beneath the soil lies the heart of the world, and her veins run gold and silver.--Tobrin Ironspike, miner* * *Catrin grew weary of the mines and the walking.They passed various chambers of different sizesalong the way, but they stayed within the halls and plodded along in the gloom.Faint echoes teased them,and at times, Catrin thought she heard the slow drip of water.After what seemed like a month, they reached an intersection, and Brother Vaughn turned.Thenew hall seemed like all the rest at first, but then Catrin noticed a change: They were ascending.Theincline was slight and barely discernable, but Catrin felt it in the backs of her legs.Longing to see the sky,she hoped they were nearing the exit.The incline continued, and from the shadows, a curve in the hall appeared.It was the first timethe tunnels had been anything but straight, and Catrin grew anxious.Beyond the gentle curve, a narrowcavern emerged, and nestled within it was a pond of dark and foreboding water that lay under a haze ofsteam.Brother Vaughn extinguished his lantern and asked Benjin to douse his as well.Total darkness crowded around them, and Catrin could see nothing in the pitch, but after amoment, Brother Vaughn rekindled his lantern.The sudden brightness hurt Catrin's eyes, but it was betterthan the impenetrable darkness."I believe it's safe to exit, but if I do not return, wait for half a day before following.There is anopening in the far wall, just below the surface.You must swim under the rock, and when you clear it, youwill be outside.Use the wax in your packs to seal them as best as you can.I'll see you on the other side."After one final look at his sand clock, Brother Vaughn handed it to Benjin.Looking doubtful andconcerned, he swam to the far end of the pond and disappeared below the surface.Catrin held her breath.She didn't know what possible dangers could prevent Brother Vaughnfrom coming back, but icy fear clutched her bowels [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl trzylatki.xlx.pl
.The throbbing in herhead made it difficult to formulate any coherent thoughts, and she cradled her head in her hands.Benjinoffered her food, but she refused.Her appetite had fled, and only pain and misery filled its place.As much as she would have liked to sleep, though, she remained awake and restless.Obscure fears andanxieties nagged at her, and she was helpless against them.Would the Zjhon capture them? Would Chase survive his quest for a ship? Did Ohmahold standany chance against the encroaching siege? The uncertainty gnawed at her, and she felt responsible for toomany lives--too many futures.Her confidence waned, and she wondered how she could have been sofoolish as to act on her ridiculous plan.There was little chance of success and an even smaller chance ofsurvival.Her mind tormented her with all the possible ways she could die.Fires scorched her skin, axescleaved her, swords severed limbs, and arrows pierced her flesh.Unable to contain her pain, she wept, and Benjin pulled her close.With his powerful arms aroundher, she felt almost safe; he would keep the horrors at bay.Still, it took her far too long to find sleep,which she knew she would regret on the morrow.* * *Rolling into a tucked position, Chase hesitated only a moment before he sprang.He took threesteps then launched himself into the air, tumbling and swinging at the same time.The crack of the impactechoed off the mountains, and Captain Longarm dropped to one knee, clutching his thigh."I'm going to feel that in the morning," he said."Sorry," Chase said."You've gotten better, but I'm getting too old to take that kind of beating, maybe one of yourfriends will spar with you," Captain Longarm said, pointing to where Strom and Osbourne stood talkingto a pair of girls who'd come to watch the spectacle."Oh no.Not me.No, sir," Strom said as they approached."You'll have to find someone else tobeat on.My hands are my trade.""Your trade, huh? I thought you were going to be a stable hand the rest of your life," Chase said."You heard me.I'm to be a great smith.Perhaps, if you're nice to me, I'll make you a realsword.""Don't look at me," Osbourne said as Captain Longarm turned a questioning gaze to him."I'mstill sore from last time.""I suppose you're just going to have to find a real enemy to take your frustrations out on, youngman," Captain Longarm said, and he turned to leave."Thanks for everything, Burrel.Sorry about the bruises," Chase said, but Captain Longarm justwaved his apology off.Still breathing hard, Chase sat on a nearby stump and regained his breath.Therewas no excuse for his hitting Burrel as hard as he had, but he could not stand waiting any longer.Asfoolish as he thought Catrin's plans were, he was still determined to do his part, and soon he would leavethe shelter of Ohmahold; he needed to be ready.For today, though, all he could do was wait."I see you no longer fly like a stone," said a familiar voice from behind him."Perhaps you couldshow me how to defend myself against unwanted advances.""Certainly, Winnette," he said."First let me show you a proper defensive stance."Perhaps waiting wouldn't be so terrible after all. Chapter 16Beneath the soil lies the heart of the world, and her veins run gold and silver.--Tobrin Ironspike, miner* * *Catrin grew weary of the mines and the walking.They passed various chambers of different sizesalong the way, but they stayed within the halls and plodded along in the gloom.Faint echoes teased them,and at times, Catrin thought she heard the slow drip of water.After what seemed like a month, they reached an intersection, and Brother Vaughn turned.Thenew hall seemed like all the rest at first, but then Catrin noticed a change: They were ascending.Theincline was slight and barely discernable, but Catrin felt it in the backs of her legs.Longing to see the sky,she hoped they were nearing the exit.The incline continued, and from the shadows, a curve in the hall appeared.It was the first timethe tunnels had been anything but straight, and Catrin grew anxious.Beyond the gentle curve, a narrowcavern emerged, and nestled within it was a pond of dark and foreboding water that lay under a haze ofsteam.Brother Vaughn extinguished his lantern and asked Benjin to douse his as well.Total darkness crowded around them, and Catrin could see nothing in the pitch, but after amoment, Brother Vaughn rekindled his lantern.The sudden brightness hurt Catrin's eyes, but it was betterthan the impenetrable darkness."I believe it's safe to exit, but if I do not return, wait for half a day before following.There is anopening in the far wall, just below the surface.You must swim under the rock, and when you clear it, youwill be outside.Use the wax in your packs to seal them as best as you can.I'll see you on the other side."After one final look at his sand clock, Brother Vaughn handed it to Benjin.Looking doubtful andconcerned, he swam to the far end of the pond and disappeared below the surface.Catrin held her breath.She didn't know what possible dangers could prevent Brother Vaughnfrom coming back, but icy fear clutched her bowels [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]