Добавить в цитаты Настройки чтения

Страница 168 из 184

He found something else, too: the, jar from De

The aum cream felt wonderful. He let out a little moan. It cooled the burning of his wounds, soothed the pain. Richard said a silent thank-you to De

"You look fu

Richard spun around. Scarlet was watching him.

"Those are not reassuring words for a man to hear from a female, even if the female is a dragon." Turning his back to her, he pulled on his fresh pants.

"You are injured. From the gars?"

Richard shook his head. "In the cave." His voice was quiet with the haunting fear of the memory. He sat down, leaning against the wall, watching his boots. "I had to go through a small hole in the rock. It was the only way. I became stuck." He looked up at the big yellow eyes. "Since I left my home to stop Darken Rahl, I've been frightened often. But when I was stuck in that hole, in the dark, the rock pressing against me so tight I couldn't breathe… well, that was one of the worst times. While I was stuck there, something grabbed my leg, dug into the flesh with sharp little claws. It did this to me as I tried to get away."

Scarlet watched him in silence a long time, one claw over the egg. "Thank you, Richard Cypher, for doing as you said you would. For getting my egg back. You are brave, even if you are not a dragon. I never believed a man would risk himself so, for a dragon." "I did it for more than your egg. I did it because I had to, to get help finding my friends."

Scarlet shook her head. "Honest, too. I think maybe you would have done it anyway. I am sorry you were injured, and that you had to be frightened so, to help me. Men try to kill dragons. You-may be the first who has ever helped one. For any reason. I had my doubts."

"Well, it's a good thing you showed up when you did. Those gars almost had me. By the way, I thought I told you to stay put. What were you doing coming after me?"

"I'm embarrassed to admit, I thought you were trying to escape. I was coming for a closer look, when I heard the uproar. I will make it up to you. I will help you find your friends, as I promised."

Richard gri

"Not from here, he won't. I searched a long time for this place after he stole my egg, so if I ever got it back, I would have a safe place for it. He will not be able to reach it here. As for leaving it, that is not a problem. When dragons hunt for food, they simply heat the rock with their flame, to keep the egg warm in their absence."

"Scarlet, time is short. When can we start?"

"Right now."