"Katherine Kerr - Deverry 08 - A Time Of Justice" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kerr Katherine)

The chase took them far from the farmlands of the demesne to the edge of the primeval oak forest, dark
and silent, which once had covered the whole southern border of the Gwaentaer plateau, but which in
Dwaen's time existed only in patchy remnants. At a stream they dismounted, watered the horses and the
dog, then sat down in the grass to eat the bread and smoked meat they'd brought with them. Cadlew cut
the head off one of the hares and tossed it to the gwertrae, who stretched out with its hind legs straight
behind and gnawed away.

'Oh, a thousand thanks for this splendid gift,' Cadlew said. 'I think I'll name him Glas.'

'If you like, tomorrow we can take the big hounds and ride into the forest. We could do with some
venison at the dun.'

'And when have I ever turned down a chance to hunt?'

Thinking of the morrow's sport, Dwaen idly looked into the forest. Something was moving - a trace of
motion, darting between two trees among bracken and fern. Even though the oaks themselves were just
starting into full leaf, the shrubs and suchlike among them were thick enough. Puzzled, he rose for a better
look. Cadlew followed his gaze, then with a shout threw himself at Dwaen's legs and knocked him to the
ground just as an arrow sped out of the cover. It whistled over them by several feet, but if Dwaen had
been standing, he would have been skewered. Growling, the gwertrae sprang up and barked, lunging
forward at the hidden enemy. Another arrow sang and hit it full in the chest. With a whimper Glas fell,
writhed and pawed at the air, then lay still. Another arrow hit the grass and struck quivering not two feet
from Dwaen's head. He felt a cold, rigid calm: they were going to die. With neither mail nor shield, it
mattered not if they lay there like tourney targets or tried to charge; it was death either way. Oh great
Bel, he prayed, come to meet us on the misty road!

'Shall we charge?' Cadlew whispered.

'Might as well die like men.'

Cadlew rolled free, grabbed a spear, and jumped to his feet with a warcry. As he did the same, Dwaen
could almost feel the bite of the arrow bringing his Wyrd. But the enemy never loosed his bow again.
When they took a couple of cautious steps forward, he saw nothing moving among the trees but a bird
on a branch.

'Well,' Dwaen said. 'I think me I've just been given a message.'

'Beryn?тАЩ

'Who else? I wager that if I'd been alone, I'd be dead by now, but no doubt he didn't want to murder
you with me. He's got naught against you and your clan.'

'If he tries to kill you again, he'll have to kill me first, but I'd rather it was in open battle.'

'It might come to that.'

Cadlew picked up the dead gwertrae and slung it over his saddle, but since Dwaen didn't want his
womenfolk alarmed, they asked a farmer to bury it for them rather than taking it back to the dun.
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