Raven's Soul. Volume 2 - стр. 9

Evans steadily led his friends into the heart of the city, when suddenly he grabbed them both by the waists and pulled them sharply against him, causing Sylvia's breath to hitch, and Astrid to let out a short, nervous laugh.

– Shh… Don't move! – whispered the healer imperiously. – The city is full of royal soldiers, and they know my face quite well....

The queen automatically glanced to the side and saw four warriors dressed in impressive armor. Each of them carried a naked sword in his hand, and the crowd parted before them as easily as a pack of small lizards gives way to a huge fire varan.

– What have you done that everyone knows you? – Astrid chuckled in the healer's ear.

– I'll tell you later! – Evans shushed her.

Sylvia was no less surprised than her companion, but she kept her amazement to herself. She was determined, however, to find out all his secrets, for, as it turned out, he had many of them.

– Gone…" Astrid looked around cautiously, and, suddenly pushing Evans away from her, said briefly: "I need to buy something! I'll find you myself!" and headed away, leaving her friend and his queen, still pressed tightly together, alone.

– Astrid! We can't be separated! – Evans shouted softly.

Astrid turned to her friend, made a face, and then disappeared into the crowd.

POV Sylvia

– You can let me go," I reminded myself quietly, still pressed against the young mage's body.

– I apologize, it was an involuntary measure," Evans said in an apologetic tone, releasing me from the embrace.

"He has strong arms, he must be practicing in his spare time. I never would have thought those hands were familiar with weapons. But the fact that he knows how to handle weapons besides magic and potions is useful… After all, he mentioned that he has a claw… I guess he's obviously not lacking in female attention," my mind raced, but I hurried to chase those bad thoughts away.

– Next time, please warn me… I can hit you. – I gave the healer a disapproving glance, which made him smile.

– Oh, Sylvia, if only you'd known that anger was good for you! – Evans muttered under his breath, but I heard his words without even listening, and my cheeks flushed.

"Evans isn't as simple as he seems! Turns out our court healer is a heartbreaker! Fortunately, my heart is still in Sturfjell with Derek, and Evans' charms won't work on me," I thought with a faint chuckle.

– But back to our assignment. We don't have much time left… We have to be back before sunset," I reminded myself. – Where does the mysterious person from whom we can buy the axe live?

– A couple houses down from here. Don't worry, we'll be heading back to the valley soon enough. We'll pay quickly, get our weapons, and then we can head back. – Evans looked around cautiously, made sure there were no royal guards nearby, and we slowly, so as not to draw attention to ourselves with our hurried walking, continued to float in the huge multicolored stream of market guests.

– But what of Astrid? We should find her," I said quietly, leaning my head toward the mage.

– We don't have to. She'll find us… She's like the sun on a cloudy day, disappearing and reappearing," Evans said, and somehow it seemed to me that there was more than friendship between him and Astrid.