"Andre Norton - Oak, Yew, Ash & Rowan 3 - A Crown Disowned" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

of a spell the wicked Sorceress had put on her in Rendelsham, she could well be expected to return to
the place where, convinced she was a bird in human form, she imagined she belonged. OrтАФhe hardly
dared hopeтАФwhere she might think to find him again, as he had found her on the verge of perishing in the
cold and dangerous Bog.

At first, Zazar had been inclined to be cross with him for going against her instructions. But then, as
Rohan explained how matters were with both the

Bog-people and the Sea-Rovers whose crops the Bog-men raided more and more often, she relented.

"I can't guarantee that Tusser will meet with you," the Wysen-wyf said. "I can't guarantee, should he meet
with you, that he'll go along with such a scheme. I can't even guarantee that you'll come out of a meeting
with him with your skin in one piece."

"Yet I'll risk it," Rohan had said.

"And also, I will keep an eye out for that silly Lady Lack-wit of yours, in case she decided to come back
here instead of staying where she was warm and safe."

Rohan's ears had burned, but he made no retort. And so, now he waited in a place of Zazar's choosing,
at a time Tusser selected, and the Wysen-wyf stood across the little clearing hard by what had once been
a far outpost of Galinth, the ruined city, watching for Tusser's arrival. Behind her, inside a shelter hastily
thrown together from stones and brush, a wisp of smoke arose in the cold, dank air.

"I think he's coming," Zazar said.

A boat emerged from a concealing fringe of vegetation that had scarcely a trace of leaf on it, for the chill
that continued to grip Rendel discouraged any plant growth. Nevertheless, the twigs formed such an
effective barrier that Rohan had not seen the little Bog-craft until it was almost in plain view.

True to his agreement, TusserтАФif that were truly himтАФ was alone. Rohan had no doubt, however, that
he was heavily armed with additional weapons stowed in the bottom of the boat, and that he had
companions stationed within close hailing distance. He glanced across the clearing at Granddam Zazar.
She nodded and took a step forward.

"Hail, Headman," she said, though there was scarcely a trace of deference in her manner. "I have
prepared a talk-fire so that you and my grandson can confer properly." She indicated the conical
twig-walled hut prepared behind her, and ducked through the curtain covering the doorway ahead of the
two men.

Neither seemed willing to let the other precede him. Rohan held out both of his hands, showing Tusser
that he held no weapon. When Tusser did the same, Rohan ducked through the opening. When both
were inside and seated by the small fire,

Zazar dropped the makeshift curtain over the door again and snugged it against a random wind with a
few well-placed stones.

"It's a poor meeting place at best, but the only one even partially acceptable to both parties," she
explained. "Here. I have some broth to warm you."