Читать книгу Through the Thorns into the Abyss онлайн

4 страница из 28

It should be noted that thanks to her combative nature, she made not only opponents, but several real friends. Especially she made friends with six boys: insolent desperate Mithai, cold tough and honest Viran, sly smiling fatty Shinak, dreamy poet Sauri, cheerful big-hearted Gan, and smart calm good-natured Matah. They were thick as thieves. Together they found «adventures» on their heads, together they helped their fellow villagers to do dangerous work, together they committed petty crimes, and together they participated in village fights. Lyra was their leader, and all seven of them took care of, protected, and supported each other. As they grew older, the boys became Lyra’s lovers… «A vile band» the local dervish Karamas called them, promising a miserable life of vagrancy, and a shameful death. But fate had decided otherwise.

Lyra was also accompanied everywhere by a black cat and a faithful, shaggy dog. She loved them dearly.

***

The civil war was escalating and devouring many lives… But for now, the horrors were far away. The village of Laira was a long way from the major cities and trade routes, in the northern lands beyond the Yellow River, ruled by Prince Pai, a quiet man with little imperial ambition. Hunger had not yet threatened, either. Here the moist breath of the Sea was felt: the rains fell, the hills were green, herds of sheep and goats grazed. And gardens, protected from tundra winds by the Gray Mountains, were blooming. Nevertheless, the villagers listened anxiously and discussed the latest news – brought by vagrants and traders. And in order to protect themselves and their simple «riches», they built a fence around the village, bought several crossbows, selected their own commanders.