[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
sorry we misinterpreted your presence here at first.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
No, no, you didn t misinterpret anything ! Squill was waving wildly, looking to his companions for
support. Neena gave a little shrug and smiled beatifically.
What about the rest of you? Wurragarr let his gaze rove over the travelers. The workings of the Dark
Ones threaten you as much as us. If they are not stopped in our country, who knows how far then-
scourge might spread? Maybe even beyond the Tamas.
I m hi. Snaugenhutt gave a little shake that set his armor to jingling lightly. Could do with a good fight.
Don t remember too much of the last one I participated in.
Same here. Viz and Mowara exchanged acknowledgments by simultaneously dipping then- beaks.
Buncan eyed the merchant. Gragelouth?
The sloth was reluctant to commit himself. Squill s observations are like a battered bowl: It leaks, but
still holds truth. We should be on our way.
I know, but there s greater truth in these folks misery. We could maybe make a difference here. He
indicated the three now abashed kookaburras. I don t see how we can deny them our help.
Ask me, growled an indignant Squill. I ll show you.
Buncan looked past him. Neena?
Tis an awful lot you re askin , Bunkles.
You really think Mudge would have ridden on by? She squirmed uncomfortably. Don t you want to
be better than that?
Don t you want to bloody well live? Squill asked nun.
Buncan glared at his friend. We survived Hygria. We survived the Sprilashoone and Camrioca. We
saved Neena from Krasvin and crossed the Tamas in spite of the Xi-Murogg. What does that tell you,
Squill?
That we re temptin bloomin fate, mate.
Are we spellsingers or not?
You sure got Jon-Tom s talent. The otter sighed. Why d you ave to go an get is bleedin sense of
duty as well?
I m not going to argue with you anymore. Buncan turned away. You don t have to come.
Cor, wot are we supposed to do? Neena put hands on waist. Go on by ourselves, then? Without
im? She pointed at the reluctant merchant. E s the only one who knows the way.
We three needs to stick together, we do. We can t make magic without you, and you can t make it
without us.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
I can still use my sword, Buncan reminded her.
You? A swordsman? She let out a series of long whistles.
He ignored the insult. I don t like the circumstances either, Neena, but part of the reason I m here is to
participate in worthy adventures like this.
Is it now? said Squill. Then why d we afta come all mis blinkin way? You coulda got yourself killed
right back ome. There s plenty o them in Lynchbany would do the job for free.
As I told you, I m a blacksmith by trade. Wurragarr spoke quietly. Not a soldier. None of us are.
Me eart bleeds for you. Squill spat to his right, unfortunately not quite missing his foot. A hundred
pairs of eyes and more watched him silently. Oh, right then, he muttered. Go on, bury me in guilt.
Dump it copiously. I loves it, I m a glutton for it. He reached back to finger his quiver. Blacksmith, you
think you can make me some more arrows?
A broad smile creased the roo s face. We ve plenty with us. You can have your pick, so long as you
promise to stick them where they ll do the most good.
fi-iar Dunkum, or wotever the ell you said, Squill mumbled disconsolately.
Wurragarr, Bedarra, and Mowara let Snaugenhutt lead the column as it wound its way through the
forest. The path led steadily upward. Unfamiliar evergreens began to appear more and more frequently
as they ascended, their branches and needles so evenly spaced one would have thought them fashioned
by hand instead of grown. Higher up they could make out the first bare rock faces, naked granite devoid
of any vegetation.
We re not afraid of the monks, Wurragarr explained. Only the revolting creations that do their
bidding. Some are more formidable than others. We have Mowara s description of a numbat crossed
with a thylacine. I wouldn t care to meet something like that on a black night.
If you and your people can handle the fighting, Buncan told him, maybe my friends and I can come
up with a spellsong to counteract their sorcery. Based on our experiences, I think the best thing to do
would be to confront them directly. That means slipping us inside. We managed that feat under similar
circumstances not long ago, but we were lucky. I don t know if we could do it again.
The roo looked thoughtful. Mowara s the only one of us who knows the monastery s interior, but he s
a flier. He rubbed his chin as he hopped along, easily keeping pace with Snaugenhutt, his tail flicking
behind him. What about it, Mowara?
The galah timed his shrug to Wurragarr s bounce. Hard to get out. Might get in. Can you sneak?
Buncan grinned. I m traveling with two otters.
Wait just a bloody minim, mate. Squill had been listening closely. You want us to go inside this den o
sorcerers an their offspring an clean em out?
Buncan looked up at the otter. Not clean them out. Just keep them from using their necromancy against
Wurragarr and his people. Confuse them, tie them down, create a diversion.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
I liked it better when we were throwin Snaugenhutt around.
The rhino glanced back and up. Easy for you to say, otter.
Right. So this time all of us are to act as a diversion. Wot appens if the oversize rat ere an is mates
don t make it in? By my way o thinkin that leaves us appy sappy diversions igh an dry, singin our
bleedin earts out.
You get tucked into the Dark Ones and we ll get in, Wurragarr assured him.
Well, then, there s nothin to worry about, is there? Wot am I goin on about it for? Why, there s one
thing don t concern me already.
What s that? Wurragarr asked politely.
The otter s reply was bitter. I don t own enough worth makin out a will for.
What about aerial guards? Buncan inquired.
According to Mowara, that shouldn t be a problem.
The roo hopped easily over a large boulder that Duncan had to scramble around. They can combine an
eagle with a badger, but it still won t fly. Planning to attack at night?
Yes. We ll strike when the moon is at its highest. Maybe we ll catch them groggy with sleep. Even
monsters have to sleep, or so I d imagine. He didn t sound like he believed it, Buncan mused.
Suddenly he recalled something the roo had mentioned earlier. You said that the cliffs surrounding
Kilagurri were steep and difficult to negotiate. How s Snaugenhutt going to climb them?
Wurragarr looked away. Actually, I don t see that your large friend can. We were hoping he would
help us assault the gate. Surely you can see that he s better suited to that than alpining?
I hear you, said Snaugenhutt. Besides, the roo added, I d mink you d find it hard to slip him inside
unseen, even with Mowara s help.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]