Recluse 02 - The Towers of the Sunset by L. E. Modesitt Jr

Author:L. E. Modesitt, Jr.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 1992-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

LXVI

WHEN CRESLIN NEXT wakes, the interior of the cabin is light, as light as it can be with rain pounding outside on the planks. Hearing voices, he neither opens his eyes nor moves.

“He has no idea?” Megaera’s whisper is strained.

Klerris says nothing, though Creslin gains the sense of a head shake.

“And I thought sister dear was cruel.”

“Men are considered dispensable on the Roof of the World.” Klerris pauses. “I do believe that our sleeping friend is about to rejoin us.”

“How long?” croaks Creslin, realizing that his throat requires some lubrication. He eases himself into as much of a sitting position as he can, given the low ceiling above the top bunk.

“Just a full day,” the Black Wizard answers.

“Thirsty . . .” Creslin tries to swallow.

Klerris supplies a tumbler of redberry, but the juice contains something else; it is not bitter, not sweet, just an extra something.

“What’s . . . in this?”

“Extra nourishment. Something healers use. You’ve asked too much of your body lately.” The Black Wizard then adds, “And your mind. Now just keep drinking that.”

Creslin sips slowly, feeling a trace less unsteady after the liquid eases down his throat. “How long before we reach Land’s End?”

“Early tomorrow, according to Friegr.”

“Friegr’s a bit grouchy right now,” adds Megaera with a trace of a smile.

“Why? The rain?” asks Creslin.

“That’s part of it, but he’s scared to death that you will die, and sort of hopes that you will. And he’s angry because he feels that way,” Klerris explains.

Creslin takes another sip. “I feel better,” he announces. He stretches, as far as the confines of the bunk will permit. “And I’m stiff.”

“No one’s insisting that you stay in that bunk,” replies Megaera.

Gingerly, Creslin extricates himself. He feels grimy all over. “I’m going to wash up.”

“Are you up to it?”

“Probably not, but I’m not up to smelling like I do.” He pulls off his shirt, boots, and trousers and stands there momentarily in his underdrawers before grabbing his razor and opening the door.

“I’m not—” The door closes before Megaera can finish her statement. “He’s impossible.”

“Just young,” temporizes Klerris.

“He’ll be impossible when he’s older, too.”

Klerris says nothing. Instead, he takes a sip from his tumbler and listens thoughtfully to the rain pelt on the planks overhead.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.