"Furey,.Maggie.-.Artifacts.of.Power.4.-.Dhiammara" - читать интересную книгу автора (Furey Maggie)

pall. Dulsina sighed. Surely there must be someone here who could help her? Someone sensible, and
capable, who was still in possession of his wits? It was with a sense of profound thankfulness
that die noticed Hargorn, standing a short distance away on the shore of the lake. The veteran was
looking out across the water at the island, leaning heavily on his sword, which he had planted,
point down, in the muddy bank of the lake. As she approached him, Dulsina's relief vanished
abruptly. For the first time since she had met him, Hargorn looked like an
tman. But as he heard her footsteps he straightened, and ugh there were telltale glints of
moisture on his seamed fefce as he turned toward her, he was dry-eyed and seemed in hill
possession of his witsЧsave for the dread, bitter empti-fless that lurked behind his gaze.
Ч "Maya's gone," he said softly, before Dulsina could speak.
*$he poor lass was here in the Vale all the time and I never fcnew itЧand now she's gone again."
His voice sank to a whis-"I was always so proud of herЧwhat she made of herself, didn't know it,
but she was like the daughter I never L" Then he shook himself, and his eyes became alert once 5.
"But there's no sense in mourning her as if she's dead we don't know for sure," he added
decisively. "Maya Id have a thing or two to say about thatЧshe's got more
6 M aggie F u r ey
balls than most men put togetherЧsorry, lovey," he apologized to Dulsina, remembering, belatedly,
that he was not talking to one of his men. "What can I do for you, anyway?"
Dulsina had to swallow back her own sadness before she could reply. His words had reminded her of
the Solstice Eve when she had lost Vannor's daughter in the crowded Grand Arcade. Maya and the
Lady Aurian had rescued Zanna from the throng and brought her back safely to the carriage. The two
young women, warrior and Mage but the fastest of friends, so full of the courage and promise of
youth, had been through so much hardship and suffering since thenЧand now both of them were gone.
"Come on, now," Hargorn gently interrupted her thoughts. "It doesn't do to dwell on itЧI shouldn't
have set you off. The Gods help anyone who dares to tangle with Maya and AurianЧand standing
around here like a bunch of wet hens won't get us anywhere, either. Thank goodness the two of us
are hereЧsomebody's got to have their wits about them."
Dulsina smiled, comforted by the warm sense of comradeship that existed between them. She and the
ageing warrior had shared a soft spot for each other ever since he had smuggled her to the Valley
with the rest of the rebels after Vannor had forbidden her to come.
Taking a grip on herself, the woman explained her predicament to Hargorn: "The Lady Eilin won't
shift from this \ spot, poor thing, and the rest of them are more like headless chickens than wet
hens. We need to get a camp together before nightfall... ." ;

"Don't worry," the veteran reassured her. "I'll round up v our folk and get them busy. I'll set
some of them to building,"* shelters, if you can come back to the camp with the rest of us y and
choose what you want us to bring. We can be back here < with food and blankets in no time."
As he hurried off, Dulsina noticed that his sword was still where he had left itЧplanted in the
mud of the lakeside. Hargorn wasn't usually so absentminded. Was age catching up with the veteran
at last? She called him back. "HargornЧ you've forgotten your sword."
He looked at her bleakly, and shook his head. "It was a sword that was responsible for this
disaster in the first place. I'm finished with fighting, Dulsina. I haven't the heart for it
anymoreЧnot after today. I'll never touch a sword again."
Dh
m m 2 r a.
7
After a time, Parric pulled himself out of his dazed reverie, and realized with dismay that dusk
had fallen. He was aghast to discover how long he had been simply standing there, lost in anguish
and horrorЧand thoroughly ashamed to find that Dulsina and Hargorn had been forced to cope alone.
They had managed very well without him, the Cavalrymaster admittedЧbut it shouldn't have been