"Andre Norton - Huon of the Horn" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

THEREFROM

"The feast of Easter being over Huon and Gerard
did prepare to keep their promise to the King.
Choosing from among their men divers knights
and squires, they did clothe them anew from helm
to spur with cunningly made armor that they
might make a goodly sight at court. But Huon and
Gerard donned no mail, nor did the younger
brother even buckle sword belt about him. For
they were minded to journey in peace and safety
under the protection of the King.

Huon, however, did put on him that sword belt
wrought of fine silver and gold which Duke Sevin
had worn in war and peace, and from it did hang
that good blade, forged far across the seas in the
unknown Easter lands by Demons of the Night
(or so said the simple folk of the country) which
Sevin had swung in battle ofttimes beforeтАФto

22

King Charlemagne's great gain. But of body ar-
mor Huon had none, only went at ease in tunic
and cloak.

Duchess Aclis wept full sore to see her sons
depart thus from Bordeaux. For never since their
hour of birth had the twain not been where her
eye might sight upon them and now her heart
misgave her strangely, for she had secretly dwelt
upon all those evils which might chance while
Huon and Gerard were apart from her. But of this
she said naught lest she shadow the brightness
of their adventure and she hid her many tears



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behind her veil.

Gerard did not ride so boldly forth from the
gate, nor did he spur his horse into the freshness
of the morning beyond the city. Rather did he am-
ble soberly at the pace of one who goes unwillingly
upon a disliked errand so that Huon must needs
rein back to company him. And when his brother