"Andre Norton - WW - Horn Crown" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

the Sword Brothers for this Ten Year, were in the center
of that circle.

Both the Bards looked thin, tired, their faces nearer to

gray in color. The opening and the closing of the Gate
might have worn them close to death, but they held them-
selves to the task before them. However, it was Wavent
who spoke.

He described again the land ahead, saying that it was
uneven, lacking any strength of plains. Rather, it was
ridged by hills and between those were dales, some wide
and well covered with vegetation, some narrow and stony.
He also spoke of the rivers that were on Garn's crude
map and of the two well shaped and open bays.

He had scarcely finished when Lord Farkon broke in:
"You have said little, I note, Sword Captain, of these
strange places left by an Elder People -- or of such people
themselves. Do any linger -- and if so will they not take
sword to defend their own lands as any lord will do?"

There was a murmur which ran from lord to lord. I
saw Ouse's shoulders straighten, almost as if he were
about to rise and speak in answer. Still he did not, but left
that to Wavent.

"Yes, this was once a land well held," the Captain ad-
mitted readily. "But those who held it have gone. We
have found things of theirs -- but in most there is no harm.
In fact, there are places of peace and safety which are
welcoming. But there are others, and I do not deceive
you, my lords, which are pools of evil. These you shall
know by the very stench of them. Also, it is well that you
have no dealing with any building or ruin which you may
find. We of the Sword have quartered and requartered
this land and have seen nothing but beasts, have found no
trace of any land holder. It is empty now; we do not
know why."

Lord Rolfin shook his head, the firelight flashing from
the three bits of red gem set in his helm just above his
eyes.

"You do not know why those others withdrew," he re-
peated. "Thus we may be facing an unknown, unseen en-
emy here."

Again there was a stir and murmur among the lords.