"Katherine Kerr - Deverry 02 - Darkspell" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kerr Katherine)

curve of a hill, riding north, and disappeared. The Boarsmen sat down and returned to their dice game.
Gweniver found herself remembering the man sheтАЩd killed on the road and wishing that she could deal
those four the same Wyrd.

Although she could have gone back and made herself useful in the kitchen, Gweniver lingered at the
gates for a while, idly talking with Lypilla and staring out at the freedom of hill and meadow denied her.
All at once, they heard distant hoofbeats, riding fast from the south.

тАШI suppose BurcanтАЩs sending messengers or suchlike to his men,тАЩ Lypilla remarked.

The Boarsmen in the meadow seemed to agree, because they rose, idly stretching, and turned toward
the sound. Suddenly, out of a stand of trees burst three riders in full mail and with swords at the ready.
The Boarsmen stood frozen for a moment, then yelled and cursed as they drew swords: the riders were
charging straight into them. Gweniver heard Lypilla scream as a Boarsman went down with his head cut
half off his shoulders. A horse reared and staggered, and Gweniver saw the riderтАЩs shield full-on.

тАШWolves!тАЩ

Without thinking she was running, sword in hand, down the hill while Lypilla screamed and begged her
to come back. The second Boarsman fell as she ran; the third was being mobbed by two riders; the
fourth broke and ran straight up the hill, as if in his panic he was trying to reach the sanctuary of the
temple that his very presence was desecrating. When he saw Gweniver racing straight for him, he
hesitated, then dodged to one side as if to go around her. With a howl of unearthly laughter that sprang
out of her mouth of its own will, she charged and swung, catching him across the right shoulder before he
could parry. When the sword slipped from his useless fingers, she laughed again and stabbed him in the
throat. Her laughter rose to a bansheeтАЩs shriek as the bright blood ran, and he fell.

тАШMy lady!тАЩ It was RicynтАЩs voice, cutting through her laugh. тАШOh by the Lord of Hell!тАЩ

The laughter vanished, leaving her sick and cold, staring at the corpse at her feet. Dimly she was
aware of Ricyn dismounting and jogging toward her.

тАШMy lady! My lady Gweniver! Do you recognize me?тАЩ

тАШWhat?тАЩ She looked up, puzzled. тАШOf course I do, Ricco. HavenтАЩt I known you half my life?тАЩ

тАШWell, my lady, thatтАЩs not worth a pigтАЩs fart when a man goes berserk like you just did.тАЩ

She felt as if heтАЩd thrown icy water in her face. For a moment she stared half-witted at him while he
looked her over in bemused concern. Just nineteen, her own age, Ricyn was a broad-faced,
sunny-looking blond who was, according to her brothers, one of the most reliable men in the warband, if
not the kingdom. Jt was odd to have him watching her as if she were dangerous.

тАШWell, thatтАЩs what it was, my lady,тАЩ he said. тАШYe gods, it made my blood run cold, hearing you laugh.тАЩ

тАШNot half as cold as it made mine. Berserk. By the Goddess herself, thatтАЩs what I was.тАЩ

Dark-haired, slender, and perpetually grinning, Dagwyn led his horse up and made her a bow.

тАШToo bad they left four men behind, my lady,тАЩ he remarked. тАШYou could have handled two all by