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

"This Huntra Eag," asked Tomlin, naming it in Twyll, the eld
Warrow tongue, "this Eye of the Hunter, just what is it?"
"That I do know, Pebble," answered Riatha. "It is a harbinger, one of
the hairy stars, coursing across the sky, bringing its dooms with it.
Thousands of winters pass between its comings, yet always it returns,
each time riding through those nights at the fading of winter, at the onset
of spring; and always it first appears among the stars we name the
Hunter, as the Hunter's eye, red and bloody."
Silvey's mouth had formed a silent O as the Elfess spoke. And she
snapped it shut when Riatha fell quiet, the audible click causing all to turn
and look at her, and she felt as if somehow she had made a mistake. But
Atha saved her from further embarrassment, turning once more to the
Elfess and asking, "The prophecy also speaks of Lastborn Firstborns
тАФwhat does that mean?"
"And what is the light of the Bear?" chimed in Bear, the stripling's
eyes glittering in the lantern light. "The prophecy speaks of that, too."
"And bane and blessing," added Silvey. "What about that?"
Tomlin cleared his throat. "Well, at least we know what the Hunter
or hunted part of the rede means."
"What?" asked Bear. "What does it mean?"
"Just this, Bear," responded Tomlin. "When we sought to slay Stoke,
he in turn tried to kill us, putting truth to the old saying concerning the
hunting of dangerous animals, and it echoes perfectly the words of the
prophecy:



"Deadly predator,
Deadly prey,
Hunter and hunted,
 Who can say
Which is which
On a given day?



"And so shall it be once more should that monster rise again. For if
he is hunted, then he in turn will hunt those who hunt him."
A silence fell over them all, broken at last by Silvey. "But who is to
say that this rede has anything to do with that monster? I mean, it could
concern something or someone else entirely. What is in the prophecy
that points to Stoke at all?"
All eyes turned to Riatha. " 'Tis the light of the Bear, wee one." At
the looks of incomprehension upon faces of all the Waerlinga, Riatha
explained. "There where Urus fell, deep down within the ice, there is a
golden glow. Why? I know not. Yet it is there, far belowтАФan
unexplained light, calling. And this I do know, Silvereyes, and so do thy
parents: Urus at times took the shape of a Bear. . . ."