"David Gemmell - Hawk Queen 1 - Ironhand' s Daughter" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gemmel David)

herder, Bernt, to accompany her on the training hunts. His duty was to keep Lady leashed, and only
release her when more than one hare was sighted. He had failed. Excited by the hunt, Bernt had
loosed the hound at first sight of a single hare. Abby had swooped upon it, and Lady had sped in
to share the prize. The hawk had turned, lashing out with her cruel beak, piercing the hound's
right eye.

'You are hunting today?' asked the dwarf.

'No. Abby is above her killing weight. I let her have the last hare we took yesterday. Today we'll
just walk awhile, up to the High Drain. She likes to fly there.'

'Watch out for the sorcerer!' warned Ballistar.

'There is no need to fear him,' said Sigarni. 'I think he is a good man.'

'He's an Outlander, and his skin has been burned by sorcery. He makes me shudder.'

Sigarni's laughter pealed out. 'Oh, Ballistar, you fool! In his land all people have dark skins;
they are not cursed.'

'He's a wizard! At nights he becomes a giant bird that flies across High Druin. Many have seen it:
a great black raven, twice normal size. And his castle is full of grimoires and spells, and there
are animals there - frozen. You know Marion - she was there! She told us all about a great black
bear that just stands in the hallway, a spell upon it. You keep clear of him, SigarmT

She looked into his dark eyes and saw the reality of his fear. 'I shall be careful,' she said.
'You may rely on it. But I will not walk in fear, Ballistar. Have I not the blood of Gandarin in
my veins?' Sigarni could not quite mask the smile as she spoke.

'You should not mock your friends!' he scolded. 'Magickers are to be avoided - anyone with sense
knows that. And what is he doing here, in our high, lonely places? Eh? Why did he leave his land
of black people and come here? What is he seeking? Or is he perhaps hiding from justice?'

'I shall ask him when next I see him,' she said. 'Come, Lady!' The hound rose warily and paced


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alongside the tall woman. Sigarni knelt and patted her flanks. 'You've learned to respect Abby
now,' she whispered, 'though I fear she will never learn respect for you.' 'Why is that?' asked
Ballistar. Sigarni looked up. 'It is the way of the hawk, my friend. It loves no one, needs no
one, fears no one.'

'Does it not love you, Sigarni?'

'No. That is why she must never be called in vain. Each time she

flies to the fist I feed her. The day I do not, she may decide never to