"Tracy Falbe - The Rys Chronicles 03 - Judgment Rising" - читать интересную книгу автора (Falbe Tracy)

his terror and Dreibrand grabbed him as he retreated. Dreibrand heard deep growls swell into the
howls of a bestial brawl. The horrendous noise peaked and then ended with a squeal. Dreibrand
looked back and saw the bear score a mighty blow across the fenthakrabiтАЩs neck, tearing a chunk
of golden mane away.

The men dashed down the stream as quick as the current. One man slipped on the wet rocks and
flew face first into the water, but he pushed himself along as if he had become an otter for an
instant, and then regained his feet.

The other men downstream were already on their horses and rushing to help after hearing the wild
animals roar.

тАЬJust cross! Cross now!тАЭ Dreibrand shouted, waving them back.

His men circled in confusion while he mounted his black horse. Dreibrand gave his order again and
led them into the center of the stream. The water was deep but not particularly treacherous, and
they rushed across, suffering only the consequence of wet pants.

Dreibrand called for Chilo. тАЬFind that trail again. Now!тАЭ

тАЬYes, Lord,тАЭ Chilo cried and charged into the woodland.

Instinct, luck, and sheer will combined and Chilo speedily located the path that he had discovered
the year before. The group of modern Nufalese followed him quickly away from the stream. They
were ascending the steep trail out of the valley before they began to feel secure again.

тАЬPerhaps we should not hunt this mother bear,тАЭ Dreibrand suggested to Tytido. тАЬThe fenthakrabi
was losing to her.тАЭ

тАЬI say give her a chance to be a good neighbor. She saw the beast first and may have saved some
of us,тАЭ Tytido said. He still showed how shaken he was. He had taken a chance and walked alone
briefly, and with hindsight, he regretted his confidence.

тАЬWe must sing loud enough tonight to scare all the wild animals away,тАЭ Dreibrand announced and
several men shouted their approval.

They returned to the High Road just north of Elendra and by sunset entered the ruins from the
opposite direction that they had intended. A wall of tightly fitted stones had once surrounded the
old city, but it was now tumbled down in several places. Although people had come here for the last
three summers, most of the repairs and new structures had been done inside the ruins. Other work
had been done on the slopes outside the city where new terraces were being shaped into the
land.

Last year, before the settlers had returned to the permanent settlement at Vetanium, winter wheat
had been planted and it was coming up nicely now. A decent crop appeared likely even though the
random curves of the mountainside seemed surprised by the rectangles of soft green plants.

Miranda had also planted flowers in the new fields on the other side of Elendra. The plants made
good fodder for the horses, but she had also meant for the bright blooms to greet Dreibrand in the
spring. Her plan had not worked because of the detour, but he climbed to the top of the south wall