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

up forthwith and there was something of eagerness in his
action though no emotion showed on his impassive face.

None looked yet upon their luck but waited until all
had drawn. There were some slips left in Wavent's bowl
but Ouse, though he had few takers, turned his upside
down before he was well around the circle and went back
to his own place.

It was only when Wavent also returned to stand by the
fire that each lord unrolled the scrap of hide his groping
fingers had brought him and looked down at the runes
marked there -- for the Sword Brothers, together with the
Bards, had made these for guidance even before we had
come through the Gate, and each carried clear directions
for travelers and settlers.

We were eager to know Garn's luck, though he did not
turn to show his drawing to his kin as many of the lords
were doing. The hum of talk arose and already there were
those who bargained for exchange, some wanting more
pasturage, others more land for crops. We waited with
what patience we could summon until at last Garn did
speak: "The Flame has favored us. We have the river
land."

It was a piece of fortune such as men seldom come
across. That he should have drawn the very land he had
marked down for his own seemed almost too well done,
as if fortune (which is always undependable) had been
this time reinforced by a more powerful ally.

I saw one of the Sword Brothers coming through the
shadows beyond the inner circle to which the fire gave
light. It was Quaine, he who had first told our lord of this
possible holding. Now he joined Garn and asked: "What
luck, my lord?"

Garn had arisen, the piece of hide stretched taut be-
tween his two hands. He favored Quaine with one of
those piercing, near accusing glances by which he was
able to reduce any man to instant acknowledgment of his
orders. Yet Quaine was not of his meiny or kin, but stood
easily as if he spoke but of pleasant weather.

Quaine was Wavent's age, and he had been Captain in
the last Ten Time. He was, I thought, near Garn's own
years, though there was no gray in his hair and his body
was slim as any youth's. He walked with the grace of a
fighting man who was well trained in the most skillful of