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

in the struggle. He'd said the same of Magni, Modi's
brother. Were Odin's boasts rooted in truth? Or were they
deceptions intended to shed doubt on Hoenir's loyalty, and
Magni'sтАФto drive a wedge between his enemies?

But in Hoenir's case, this much was certainтАФhe was
Odin's brother. Odin's blood. His pedigree alone made him
someone not to be trusted. In the end, Hoenir was aligned
with no one but himself.

"Remember," said Vidar. "If I'm not back by morning,
something went wrong."

10 MICHAEL JAN FRIEDMAN

"I'll remember,'* said Hoenir. "I hope that I can.keep
the natives quiet that long." Then he turned and merged
with the darkness inside the cavern.

"I don't trust him," said Eric, when Hoenir had gone,

"You're learning," said Vidar, "even as I am." He
brushed some dust from the black, woven breeches he'd
been given back in Skatalund, "But now I've got to find
Ullir again."

Eric nodded. "But we don't know which of the chieftains
may be in league with Odin, do we? What if Ullir's father
has thrown in with him?"

"I think that Ullir would have suspected as much, if it
were a possibility."

"And UHir?" asked Eric. "Can you trust Aim?"

Vidar turned toward Asgard and listened to the far-off
surf breaking on the rocks. He sighed. "Sometimes," he
said, "you've just got to take your chances."

HI

The descent from the mountains through the foothills
took the rest of the day. and they found the road to Asgard
in the thin light of early evening. Ullir had said little to
him, since they were concentrating on keeping themselves
hidden from the watchers on Asgard's wall, and not on
pleasantries. Even when they reached the narrow stone
highway, they had to conceal themselves in the woods
alongside it, until there was a gap in the string of travelers
and they could join them without suspicion. Then they