JК
The Magehound :: Каннингем Элейн
Страница: 195 из 216"Here, in this foul swamp? Andris, what are you thinking? How many people have survived Akhlaur? Do you have any idea what you're going up against?"
"A laraken," the man said easily. "It is a creature that drains magic. But none of these men possess any magical ability or weapons. We fight as jordaini fight against wizards, with wits and weapons."
"Wits and weapons?" echoed Tzigone. She strode over to Andris and eyed the daggers strapped to his side. "Hmm. Weapons. Looks like you're half right."
Andris lifted an eyebrow and glanced inquiringly at Matteo.
"This is Tzigone," he said simply. "Lured here by Kiva. Believe me, the laraken is not your only foe."
"Kiva is no foe," Andris said quietly. "I lead these men, but I follow the elf woman."
"Andris, there are things that Kiva hasn't told you. There are things about her that you don't know."
"No doubt. Can you claim to know every secret of the wizards you have served?"
"I'm reasonably sure that neither of them murdered Cassia," Matteo said sharply.
His friend's expression turned grave. "Cassia dead, at Kiva's hand? Are you certain of this? Beyond doubt? Has Kiva been magically tested?"
"Not yet."
"Then wait until that time to make accusations. Kiva has been traveling with us for many days. We have never gone to the city of Halarahh. She could not have killed Cassia."
Tzigone rolled her eyes. "Kiva's a wizard, isn't she? Do you think her fastest means of travel is a good horse or a quick ship?"
Andris considered this, then shrugged and turned back to Matteo. "Let me tell you what we plan to do. Listen to what Kiva has done, what she wishes to accomplish, before you judge her."
"I can't think of much that would justify taking these men into Akhlaur! This is not a fight you can win."
"We won in Kilmaruu," Andris stated. "We resolved the Kilmaruu Paradox, just as I told you."
Matteo stared at him. "So that's why Kiva took you. But how could she know of your studies of Kilmaruu? Did you tell anyone other than me and the jordaini masters?"
"No one."
"Then how did she know?"
Both men fell silent as they considered this disturbing puzzle.
"I can answer that," Tzigone said with obvious reluctance. "You told the jordaini masters, right? Well, there you go. One of them passed information along to Kiva."
"That's impossible," Andris said flatly.
"A year ago, I would have agreed," Matteo said, his face thoughtful and troubled. He turned to Tzigone. "Are you suggesting a possibility, or do you know this for truth?"
Tzigone squirmed.
"A laraken," the man said easily. "It is a creature that drains magic. But none of these men possess any magical ability or weapons. We fight as jordaini fight against wizards, with wits and weapons."
"Wits and weapons?" echoed Tzigone. She strode over to Andris and eyed the daggers strapped to his side. "Hmm. Weapons. Looks like you're half right."
Andris lifted an eyebrow and glanced inquiringly at Matteo.
"This is Tzigone," he said simply. "Lured here by Kiva. Believe me, the laraken is not your only foe."
"Kiva is no foe," Andris said quietly. "I lead these men, but I follow the elf woman."
"Andris, there are things that Kiva hasn't told you. There are things about her that you don't know."
"No doubt. Can you claim to know every secret of the wizards you have served?"
"I'm reasonably sure that neither of them murdered Cassia," Matteo said sharply.
His friend's expression turned grave. "Cassia dead, at Kiva's hand? Are you certain of this? Beyond doubt? Has Kiva been magically tested?"
"Not yet."
"Then wait until that time to make accusations. Kiva has been traveling with us for many days. We have never gone to the city of Halarahh. She could not have killed Cassia."
Tzigone rolled her eyes. "Kiva's a wizard, isn't she? Do you think her fastest means of travel is a good horse or a quick ship?"
Andris considered this, then shrugged and turned back to Matteo. "Let me tell you what we plan to do. Listen to what Kiva has done, what she wishes to accomplish, before you judge her."
"I can't think of much that would justify taking these men into Akhlaur! This is not a fight you can win."
"We won in Kilmaruu," Andris stated. "We resolved the Kilmaruu Paradox, just as I told you."
Matteo stared at him. "So that's why Kiva took you. But how could she know of your studies of Kilmaruu? Did you tell anyone other than me and the jordaini masters?"
"No one."
"Then how did she know?"
Both men fell silent as they considered this disturbing puzzle.
"I can answer that," Tzigone said with obvious reluctance. "You told the jordaini masters, right? Well, there you go. One of them passed information along to Kiva."
"That's impossible," Andris said flatly.
"A year ago, I would have agreed," Matteo said, his face thoughtful and troubled. He turned to Tzigone. "Are you suggesting a possibility, or do you know this for truth?"
Tzigone squirmed.