Gemmell, David - Drenai - 10 - The Swords Of Night And Day by Gemmell David

Author:Gemmell, David [Gemmell, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Epic
ISBN: 9780552146784
Publisher: Corgi
Published: 2004-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Harad was standing on the shelf of rock, staring out over the land, Charis beside him. Askari had left some time before, to scout for any sign of their enemies returning. The sun was setting, the sky red as blood. Brilliantly lit clouds hovered above the western mountains, themselves dramatically colourful with their crimson bases, their flanks a mixture of coral and black, and their rounded peaks white as snow.

‘It is so beautiful,’ said Charis, taking Harad’s arm, and resting her head on his shoulder. ‘Look at those clouds.’

‘I am looking at the clouds. I think it will rain tomorrow.’

‘Oh, Harad,’ she said. He heard the disappointment in her voice, and felt a sense of loss as she withdrew her arm and moved away from him.

‘They are beautiful,’ he said swiftly.

‘You don’t see it though, do you?’ she said, turning towards him. ‘You look at clouds and you think of rain. A deer is just meat on four legs. A tree is something to chop down to make a table, or a chair.’

‘Aye, well, that’s all true, isn’t it?’

‘Of course it’s true, you clod! There is so much more, though. I wish you could see it.’

‘Why? What difference does it make what I see?’

Chads did not answer. She rubbed at her stinging eyes, and then ran her hand through her golden hair, pushing it back from her face. ‘I am really tired,’ she said. ‘I think I’ll go and rest.’

‘I understand beauty,’ he said softly. ‘When you just brushed your fingers through your hair. That was beautiful. Sometimes, on a cold autumn day, after the rain, when the sun shines through the broken clouds, that is beautiful too. When you live alone in the mountains you tend to deal in realities, like food and shelter and comforts. Clouds bring rain, deer is meat.’

‘Well,’ she said, with a smile. ‘You used up a whole winter of words there.’

‘I didn’t want you to go away,’ he told her, his face reddening.

‘Why did you come after me, Harad?’ she asked, stepping in close.

‘Thought you might need me.’

‘And I did. Not just because I was in danger. I needed you before that. Did you never wonder why I always brought your food?’

‘I thought it was because you enjoyed irritating me.’

Her face darkened. ‘Did it not occur to you that I might have been attracted to you?’

‘To me?’ he said, shocked.

‘Yes, to you, you dimwit! Did I not ask you to the Feast? Did I not promise to teach you to dance?’

Harad struggled in vain to bring his thoughts into focus. It was as if the sea was roaring between his ears. ‘I’m not a handsome man,’ he said at last. ‘It never entered my mind that you . . . I don’t . . . I don’t know what to say.’

‘Tell me you love me. Or not,’ she added swiftly.

Harad drew in a deep breath. Then he relaxed, and gave a broad smile. ‘Of course I love you. When I thought you might have been .

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