"Dennis L. McKiernan - Mithgar - Eye of the Hunter" - читать интересную книгу автора (McKiernan Dennis L)

heart of the Greatwood; and my ancestors, Tomlin and Petal, Warrows
of the Weiunwood.
"Three times they faced Stoke, and on the third time they slew him,
though Urus, too, was lost, the Man plunging to his death in order to
take the monster down with him, in order to slay Stoke."
"I know," said Lacey. "Urus was very brave, very noble, and it was
sad. But it is an ancient tale, an ancient story . . . and this is now, this is
today."
"Ancient, Lacey, yes. Yet something from that past, something from
ten hundred years ago, looms ominously in the now, or rather, in the
near future, in our near futureтАФa prophecy of doom, it seems."
Lacey's eyes flew wide at this pronouncement, but before she could
comment, Faeril plunged on. "This journal tells of a rede about to fall
due, one that in some fashion may be related to Baron Stoke, though
how one who was slain long ago can reach down through the centuries
to clutch at the here and now . . . well, it's beyond me."
Faeril thumbed through the booklet until she found the entry she
sought. "And look, here, a millennium past, it says that Lady Riatha
came to the Weiunwood and told Tomlin and Petal of a prophecy made
by Rael, Elfqueen of Arden Vale."



May 29-31, 4E1980: Days of joy and despair, for Riatha came .
. . And this is what she said ...

Tomlin heard the horse coming up the path before it hove into view.
He stood on the stoop and shaded his eyes against the afternoon Sun,
watching the woodland way. His face broke into a great smile when a
golden-haired Elfess clad in soft grey leather, sword in harness across
her back, rode forth from the vault of the forest and into the glade.
He turned and called into the cottage, "Petal, it's Riatha!"
There sounded a flurry of footsteps, and rushing out onto the porch
came three dammenтАФLittle Riatha and Silver-eyes, followed by
PetalтАФall aproned, with a touch of flour upon Silvereyes' cheek and
Little Riatha's fingers stained with berry juice.
Petal came and stood at Tomlin's side. "Can it be ... ?"
Tomlin put an arm about his dammia's shoulders.
"Stoke? I think not, Petal, for we both saw him borne down into the
depths of the ice."
Petal cast a timorous smile at her buccaran, and they stood side by
side with an arm about one another as Riatha came across the clearing.
Tomlin and Petal's dammsels, Silvereyes and Little RiathaтАФor as
they were diminutively called, Silvey and AthaтАФ stood beside their
parents, watching the Elfess draw near, their eyes dancing with
anticipation. They had never before met Riatha, though they had known
of her all their lives.
And the sword-bearing Elfess rode her moon-dappled grey to the
wee cottage and dismounted.
Petal rushed forward and Riatha knelt to embrace her and then