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Alec snapped.
Ilar shut his mouth and kept his distance.
 They hurried on, Alec leading them east to confound any trackers who talked to the goatherd.
Suddenly Seregil-who d been uncommonly quiet-reached out and ruffled Sebrahn s hair.  You surely
aren t human or  faie, but you re not just a thing, either, I guess.
 No, he s not, Ilar agreed, much to Alec s surprise.  As great an alchemist as Il-as Yhakobin is, I
don t think he understood what he created.
Alec spared him a mocking grin.  Because of my mongrel blood.
 That may be exactly it, Seregil mused, still studying Sebrahn.  We don t know what a rhekaro is
supposed to look like.
 I saw a few drawings in the old tomes Yhakobin used, Ilar told him.  They showed something with a
human shape, apart from the wings.
 Well, that s something, I suppose. So, he has teeth but doesn t eat. He moves and bleeds whatever
that white juice is but has no heart. He appears to have some sort of mind-
 And he can feel pain, Alec reminded him.  But not cold.
 When Yhakobin finished with the first one he made&  Ilar began.
Alec stopped dead, a dangerous look in his eyes.  You were there? You helped butcher it?
Seregil gripped Alec s arm, holding him back.  What did you see, Ilar?
Ilar looked rather ill.  It didn t die easily. He had to keep cutting it up.
Alec sank to the ground and pulled Sebrahn into his arms, holding him tight.
 What did he find? Seregil asked.
 Something like bones and organs, but they were all colorless, and he could not guess their function.
 I see. Seregil squeezed Alec s shoulder.  Let s keep going.
Alec settled Sebrahn in his sling again and took the lead without a word, but Seregil could feel the rage
boiling in his lover s heart. It coursed along the talimenios bond like molten lead.
He had to keep cutting it up&
Seregil glanced over at Sebrahn and felt sick at the thought.
When they stopped in a dry gully, just before dawn, Seregil s thoughts had turned to other things.
They settled as comfortably as they could, sheltered by a few wind-twisted cedars that overhung the
bank. Seregil sat down beside Sebrahn and stroked the rhekaro s hair.  You re a fine healer, little one,
with those flowers of yours.
That got a wan smile from Alec.  He is, isn t he? Maybe if Yhakobin had figured that out, he wouldn t
have hurt them so much.
 The fact that he didn t know makes me wonder what he was after. Seregil paused, working up the
nerve to broach the idea that had come to him during the night s march.  Alec, I m going to need your
help with something. Is your knife still good and sharp?
 Yes. Why?
Seregil pushed back his right sleeve and ran a thumb over the slave mark.
 Oh, no! Are you insane?
Seregil grinned.  Probably, but that s beside the point at the moment. I m going to need your help.
 What are you talking about? Ilar demanded.
 You said it yourself, Seregil replied.  These marks are nothing I want to wear for the rest of my life.
And if we re caught with them here, then there s no talking our way out of anything.
 And I told you that the first thing the slave takers look for is a new wound where the brand should
be.
Seregil nodded at Sebrahn.  But what if there isn t one to find?
He unbuckled his belt and folded the end over, then clenched it between his front teeth.  That should
do. Let s do the leg brand first, Alec. That s less likely to be noticed in passing, if this doesn t work.
 Why not try it on Ilar first? asked Alec.
Ilar was halfway to his feet already, and looked ready to bolt.
 That s why, said Seregil.  He ll fight and scream and we could end up hamstringing him. And it can t
be you, either. You re the only one Sebrahn listens to, and if he sees me come at you with a knife, he
might not be very cooperative. He grinned and ruffled Alec s hair.  Don t worry, talí. I ve been through
worse.
True. But not for a long time.
It took a little more convincing, but finally he talked them both into it. Ilar stood with Sebrahn, holding
the cup of water. Seregil stretched out in the dirt on his belly, clutching the folded belt. Alec knelt over
him with the knife and pulled up his trouser leg to expose the brand.
He gripped Seregil s leg, and Seregil was glad that hand was steady.  Be quick, Alec, and try not to
cut too deep. Just the skin.
 I know.
Seregil put the folded leather between his teeth and bit down. He felt Alec pinch up the skin on the
back of his calf, then bit down hard on the belt as Alec started cutting.
Seregil probably had been through worse, and Alec probably was working as quickly as he could, but
it certainly didn t seem like it as white-hot pain shot up Seregil s leg. Having the brand flayed off hurt
worse than having it burned on. Panting around the folded belt, he was only dimly aware when Alec
stopped and said something to the others.
An agonizing moment later, hands gripped his calf and he snarled and jerked in their grip as something
cold and wet touched his raw flesh.
 Lie still! Alec ordered.
The cold sensation came back, but this time the pain subsided considerably. He tried to look over his
shoulder, but Alec pushed him down again.  Stay still, please. It s going to take a few more.
After the second flower the pain was bearable. After the third he spit out the belt and buried his head
in his folded arms, covered in cold sweat and overwhelmed by the heavy perfume of the healing flowers. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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