友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
热门书库 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

ggk.thesummertree-第5章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



  The Dwarf nodded; without speaking。
  〃The svarts;〃 Loren went on; 〃are a malicious race; and have done great evil in their time。 There are few of them left。 This one; braver than most; it would seem; somehow followed Matt and me through on our crossing。 They are ugly creatures; and sometimes dangerous; though usually only in numbers。 This one; I suspect; is dead。〃 He looked to Matt again。
  Once more the Dwarf nodded from where he stood by the door。
  〃I wish you hadn't told me that;〃 Jennifer said。
  The mage's eyes; deep…set; were again curiously tender as he looked at her。 〃I'm sorry you have been frightened this evening。 Will you accept my assurance that; unsettling as they may sound; the svarts need not be of concern to you?〃 He paused; his gaze holding hers。 〃I would not have you do anything that goes against your nature。 I have extended to you an invitation; no more。 You may find it easier to decide after leaving us。〃 He rose to his feet。
  Another kind of power。 A man accustomed to mand; Kevin thought a few moments later; as the five of them found themselves outside the door of the room。 They made their way down the hall to the elevator。
  Matt S?ren closed the door behind them。
  〃How bad is it?〃 Loren asked sharply。
  The Dwarf grimaced; 〃Not very。 I was careless。〃
  〃A knife?〃 The mage was quickly helping his friend to remove the scaled…down jacket he wore。
  〃I wish。 Teeth; actually。〃 Loren cursed in sudden anger when the jacket finally slipped off to reveal the dark; heavily clotted blood staining the shirt on the Dwarf's left shoulder。 He began gently tearing the cloth away from around the wound; swearing under his breath the whole time。
  〃It isn't so bad; Loren。 Be easy。 And you must admit I was clever to take the jacket off before going after him。〃
  〃Very clever; yes。 Which is just as well; because my own stupidity of late is terrifying me! How in the name of Conall Cernach could I let a svart alfar e through with us?〃 He left the room with swift strides and returned a moment later with towels soaked in hot water。
  The Dwarf endured the cleansing of his wound in silence。 When the dried blood was washed away; the teeth marks could be seen; purple and very deep。
  Loren examined it closely。 〃This is bad; my friend。 Are you strong enough to help me heal it? We could have Metran or Teyrnon do it tomorrow; but I'd rather not wait。〃
  〃Go ahead。〃 Matt closed his eyes。
  The mage paused a moment; then carefully placed a hand above the wound。 He spoke a word softly; then another。 And beneath his long fingers the swelling on the Dwarf's shoulder began slowly to recede。 When he finished; though; the face of Matt S?ren was bathed in a sheen of perspiration。 With his good arm Matt reached for a towel and wiped his forehead。
  〃All right?〃 Loren asked。
  〃Just fine。〃
  〃Just fine!〃 the mage mimicked angrily。 〃It would help; you know; if you didn't always play the silent hero! How am I supposed to know when you're really hurting if you always give me the same answer?〃
  The Dwarf fixed Loren with his one dark eye; and there was a trace of amusement in his face。 〃You aren't;〃 he said。 〃You aren't supposed to know。〃
  Loren made a gesture of ultimate exasperation; and left the room again; returning with a shirt of his own; which he began cutting into strips。
  〃Loren; don't blame yourself for letting the svart e through。 You couldn't have done anything。〃
  〃Don't be a fool! I should have been aware of its presence as soon as it tried to e within the circle。〃
  〃I'm very seldom foolish; my friend。〃 The Dwarf's tone was mild。 〃You couldn't have known; because it was wearing this when I killed it。〃 S?ren reached into his right trouser pocket and pulled out an object that he held up in his palm。 It was a bracelet; of delicate silver workmanship; and set within it was a gem; green like an emerald。
  〃A vellin stone!〃 Loren Silvercloak whispered in dismay。 〃So it would have been shielded from me。 Matt; someone gave a vellin to a svart alfar。〃
  〃So it would seem;〃 the Dwarf agreed。
  The mage was silent; he attended to the bandaging of Matt's shoulder with quick; skilled hands。 When that was finished he walked; still wordless; to the window。 He opened it; and a late…night breeze fluttered the white curtains。 Loren gazed down at the few cars moving along the street far below。
  〃These five people;〃 he said at last; still looking down。 〃What am I taking them back to? Do I have any right?〃
  The Dwarf didn't answer。
  After a moment; Loren spoke again; almost to himself。 〃I left so much out。〃
  〃You did。〃
  〃Did I do wrong?〃
  〃Perhaps。 But you are seldom wrong in these things。 Nor is Ysanne。 If you feel they are needed…〃
  〃But I don't know what for! I don't know how。 It is only her dreams; my premonitions。 。 。 。〃
  〃Then trust yourself。 Trust your premonitions。 The girl is a hook; and the other one; Paul…〃
  〃He is another thing。 I don't know what。〃
  〃But something。 You've been troubled for a long time; my friend。 And I don't think needlessly。〃
  The mage turned from the window to look at the other man。 〃I'm afraid you may be right。 Matt; who would have us followed here?〃
  〃Someone who wants you to fail in this。 Which should tell us something。〃
  Loren nodded abstractedly。 〃But who;〃 he went on; looking at the green…stoned bracelet that the Dwarf still held; 〃who would ever give such a treasure into the hands of a svart alfar?〃
  The Dwarf looked down at the stone for a very long time as well before answering。
  〃Someone who wants you dead;〃 Matt S?ren said。
  
  Chapter 2
  
  The girls shared a silent taxi west to the duplex they rented beside High Park。 Jennifer; partly because she knew her roommate very well; decided that she wouldn't be the first to bring up what had happened that night; what they both seemed to have heard under the surface of the old man's words。
  But she was dealing with plex emotions of her own; as they turned down Parkside Drive and she watched the dark shadows of the park slide past on their right。 When they got out of the cab the late…night breeze seemed unseasonably chill。 She looked across the road for a moment; at the softly rustling trees。
  Inside they had a conversation about choices; about doing or not doing things; that either one of them could have predicted。
  
  Dave Martyniuk refused Kim's offer to share a cab and walked the mile west to his flat on Palmerston。 He walked quickly; the athlete's stride overlaid by anger and tension。 You are too quick to renounce friendship; the old man had said。 Dave scowled; moving faster。 What did he know about it?
  The telephone began ringing as he unlocked the door of his basement apartment。
  〃Yeah?〃 He caught it on the sixth ring。
  〃You are pleased with yourself; I am sure?〃
  〃Jesus; Dad。 What is it this time?〃
  〃Don't swear at me。 It would kill you; wouldn't it; to do something that would bring us pleasure。〃
   〃I don't know what the hell you're talking about。〃 〃Such language。 Such respect。〃 〃Dad; I don't have time for this any more。〃 〃Yes; hide from me。 You went tonight as Vincen
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!