"Kenneth C. Flint - A Storm Upon Ulster" - читать интересную книгу автора (Flint Kenneth C)

well in daring and in skill, and so he accepted it. "Ill race you," he
responded boldly, "but it will be no easy run you get from me!" "Then be about
it!" she cried.

Together the two chariots leaped forward as the teams obeyed their drivers'
commands. The vehicles were for pleasure only and lightly built, and the
powerful animals pulled them along as if nothing at all held them back. The
racers flew over the broad plains. They met and vaulted low walls and narrow
ravines. They skirted rocks and wheeled about alarmed cattle by a reckless
margin, and still the drivers urged their steeds to even greater efforts.

Fardia laughed aloud at the pace, so exhilarating it was, but his sideways
glance at Meave showed him ail opponent grimly intent, crouched low over her
reins, calling commands to her team in a clear, hard voice.

Ahead of the racing chariots, against the distant gray-green hills, a darker
mound began to show. As they moved toward it, it seemed to rise and swell
rapidly until its presence dominated the Plains of Ai and structures became
visible upon its flattened crest.

Tile hill was Dun Cruchane, chief city of Connacht, raised years before by
Meave's husband, King Aileel. Then it had been but a simple fortress, an
artificially built mound whose brow was crowned by a round, timber palace
surrounded by a high palisade. Now Connacht's rise in power was reflected in
the new buildings within the fortress walls and the growing town which
clustered close without.

Meave and Fardia sped toward this goal without a slowing in the pace. For long
no watcher could have called a leader. The four animals ran as if harnessed
side by side in the same traces, their chariots almost touching hubs. But soon
a change was evident. The steady run began to tell on the horses of the queen,
while Fardia's, bred and trained by Firbolg masters, went on untiring. Slowly
he began to pull ahead.

While caught up in the race, Meave could not ignore

MEAVE

11

the wearing of her team and was quick enough to judge her chances lost. With a
sign to Fardia she reined in, still a good distance from the limits of the
town.

Fardia circled and pulled up beside her, his expression purposely neutral as
he tried to judge how she had taken the loss.

"A fair win, Fardia," she said simply,
"Thank you, my Queen," he answered with relief. "I think that now we'd best
walk them in to cool them."