"Michael Jan Friedman - The Seekers and the Sword" - читать интересную книгу автора (Friedman Michael Jan)

Asgard."

Vidar felt his jaw. He was still more than a little weary
after doling out his vitality in so many small doses, to heal
those who had broken limbs or suffered worse injuries in
their fall through the gate. For it was a vertical passage
through which Odin had escaped, and it had been inevita-
ble that there would be some poor landings on the other
side. Fortunately, the only fatalities had been the horses
who had come up lame, and had to be put to death in the
deepest parts of the cavern.

But he had heard the complaints even as he had admin-
istered to the injured. The Asgardian troops wanted no
part of him, with Vali gone. And with Asgard in sight, it
would be difficult to keep them up here much longer.

The Seekers and the Sword

But if the Asgardians suddenly poured out of the hills,
they might find a ravening maw instead of their beloved
city, and its teeth the spears of Odin's followers. How deep
might Odin's influence extend, how high? How many in
Asgard might have been swayed by the tales of mighty
Odin, and inspired by his sudden reappearance among
them? How many dissatisfied enough with Vali's reign to
seek an alternative?

"Did you find the Aesirman you spoke of?" asked Hoe-
nir. "And explain the situation to him?"

"Yes," said Vidar. "He agreed to do as I asked, although
he thought I was jesting, at first, when I told him who Ygg
was. He said it would not be easy."
, Hoenir shrugged. "He doesn't know how convincing you
can be. Jawbreaker." He paused for a moment, smiling.
"I'm just sorry that I can't come with you. But there are a
few black marks on my name in Asgard, and this would be
an awkward time for an accounting."

Vidar found himself listening for hidden motives in his
uncle's words- There was always the game, the war oT
suspicions. Perhaps the strangest part of becoming reac-
quainted with his family's penchant for dissembling and
intrigue, Vidar mused, was the realization that he himself
could be mistrusted.

But in this case, there was more to it than that. Vidar
remembered what Odin had boasted of in the fortress of
the thursar priestsтАФthat Hoenir had begun to lean his way