"Andre Norton - Darkness and Dawn" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

leggings were of hide and polished by hours of riding. He wore his hair shoulder length
as the sign of free birth and it was held out of his eyes by a broad band on which was
painted the sign of his family clan and tribe. The long lance which was the terrible
weapon of the horsemen hung in its loops at his saddle and in addition he wore at his belt
the curved, slashing sword which was the badge of his nation.
For the second time Fors wondered whether he should make overtures. But that, too,
was quickly answered. Out of the trees came a second pair of riders, both older men. One
was a chief or sub chieftain of the Plainsmen, for the metal badge in his headband had
caught the sun. But the otherтАФ
Fors' body jerked as if an arrow had thudded home between his shoulder blades. And
Lura, catching his dismay, voiced one of her noiseless snarls.
That was Jarl! But Jarl was the Star CaptainтАФnow exempt from travel in the
lowlands. He had not been exploring for two years or more. It was his duty to remain at
the Eyrie and portion out the tasks of other Star Men. But there he was, riding knee to
knee with the Plainsman chief as if he were any apprentice rover. What had brought Jarl
down to the lowlands against all rule and custom?
Fors wincedтАФthere was an answer to that. Never before had the sanctuary of the Star
House been violated. His crime must have brought Jarl out of the hills. And if he, Fors,
were capturedтАФwhat would be the penalty for such a theft? He had no idea but his
imagination could supply quite a fewтАФall of them drastic. In the meantime he could only
remain where he was and pray that he would not be detected before the herders moved.
Luckily most of the horses had drunk their fill and were turning away from the lake.
Fors watched them longingly. With one of them to lend four feet and save his two, he
could be well beyond Jarl's reach before the Star Captain knew of his presence. He had
too great an opinion of Jarl's skill not to believe that the man from the Eyrie could cross
his trail within a day or so.
The second herder urged the last mares away from the water while his companion
mounted. But Jarl and the chief still sat talking and looking out idly across the lake. Fors
silently endured the bites of flies which seemed to have accompanied the horses, but Lura
growled again softly. She wanted to leave, knowing full well that if she did not want her
trail followed it would not be. Fors could not hope for such results himself, so he
hesitated until the cat's impatience or some change in the air current changed their luck as
it carried Lura's scent down to the peaceful herd.
Within seconds there was wild confusion. Mares squealed, wild-eyed with fright for
their foals, tramping up the bank and bursting between the ridersтАФdashing ahead to get
away from that dangerous place. The Plainsmen had been caught off guard. One was
borne along with the rush, fighting to regain mastery of his own mountтАФthe other could
only ride after the rout.
Lance in hand the chief went after them. But Jarl remained where he was for a long
moment, searching the shoreline of the lake with narrowed eyes. Fors flattened against
the rock, sending a stern warning to Lura to do likewise. Fortunately Jarl was on the
opposite side of the water and the Star Captain could not match the keen sight of his
quarry. But how much protection that offered he had no means of telling.
Hardly daring to draw the shallowest of breaths, cat and boy inched back. Jarl stayed,
alert, watching. Then came the thunder of hoofs, just as Fors' boots struck earth. He was
off at his best woods' pace, heading north, away from the camp which must lie
somewhere on the other side of the lake. He wanted a horse, needed a horse, but not
enough that he dared brave Jarl to get one. Fors had a very hearty respect for the abilities
of the Star Captain.
As he sped away he wondered what the hunter on the island had done and whether he,