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

the forest. As the dog ran wide of the ebon marge, steering clear,
Gwylly followed, also giving wide berth to the ancient trees, though he
peered into the murky interior, his sight sifting among the shadows, trying
to see . . . what? He did not know.
This was one of the dark places, a hidden place, a place closed to
ordinary folk. A place where no one went. A place spoken of in rumor
and whisper.
Too, there were tales of strange beings within these forbidding
places, shadowy figures half seen, some gigantic and shambling, others
small and quick. Some were said to be shining figures of light, while
others were of the dark itself. Too, it was told that some of the dwellers
within were made of the very earth, while others were beings seemingly
akin to the trees and plants and greenery.
But no matter their nature, they didn't abide strangers.
Gwylly had heard the tales, tales of those who disappeared in the
interior of such places, of those who had sworn to stride through such,
entering but never emerging.
Gwylly had heard other tales, too. Tales of aid given to those in
need.
It was said that once all of the Weiunwood was dark. Closed. But
when the Warrows came, pursued as they were, flying before an
implacable foe, the 'Wood let them enter. Let them take refuge. Let
them hide.
And afterward, when the foe had been defeated, the 'Wood gave
them the glens and glades, and parts of the treeland as well, though it
kept much of the forest unto itself, closed.
The Warrows had then settled in communities withinтАФ communities
called Glades. And here groups of Warrows had lived ever since,
unmolested by and large. Now and again some foe would try to conquer
them, such as had Modru a millennium past, during the Winter War,
though he had failed.
Sheltered by the ancient forest, the Weiunwood Warrows roamed
free, though even they did not enter the closed places, with its Fox
Riders and Living Mounds and Angry Trees and Groaning Stones and
all the other creatures of lore and legend said to dwell within.
And as Black and Gwylly ran alongside the great margin of one of
these vast, dark places, Gwylly's eyes darted hither and yon, seeking to
see ... to seeтАФ
Suddenly before them a roebuck broke from cover, crashing off
through the ferns. Black leapt upward, sighting the fleeing deer, the dog
yelping in excitement yet not running after, waiting the command from
Gwylly.
"Down, Black!" called Gwylly, his heart pounding in startlement.
Black looked at the Warrow as if in disbelief. Not chase?
"Not today, dog. Today we hunt bird." Gwylly felt his pulse slowing.
In the distance the sounds of the red buck faded . . . faded . . . then
were gone, and Gwylly wondered which of the three of themтАФWarrow,
dog, or deerтАФhad been the most startled.
"Bird, Black. Find bird."
Somewhat disgruntled, Black cast one last accusing look at Gwylly,