"Andre Norton - WW - Secrets 03 - The Warding of Witch World" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

muttering, a whispering which sometimes uttered clearly a name or two. Riders were pointed out by
senior to junior, who stared in equal awe. For these who came now to Es were part of distant
legends--traders' tales, heretofore never completely believed.

They rode or strode in silence also, no small talk, only sometimes the jangle of a piece of
equipment, the snort of a war Torgian, or the like.

A tailor grabbed excitedly at the sleeve of his wife, who had come down into the shop.

"Tis one of the Green Valley, that one! See, he sprouts horns! And the lady with him--she is
Dahaun!"

His wife drew a breath which was close to a sigh. "Master Parkin said she was noted fair--but
this is a goddess!"

Still they came. From the north, Borderers of those squads which served to hold the passes into
Alizon. Out of the river which linked Es with the sea moved others, sleek of body, finned as to feet, who
stared about them silently for a moment or so before they began their inward march. There were Sulcar
captains, too, their huge, furred cloaks thrown back, their horned or center-ridged helms bright with gold,
proving that they were wide-faring, and lucky in that faring.

For three days they came. Only once did the city guard not retreat to give passage. They
wavered into an untidy line before two riders from the southland. There was a woman clad in leather and
with her plainly a high-born lord of the Old Race. However, it was the steeds which they bestrode that
had brought forward the guards.

Men knew of Torgians, famous for their battle readiness. And they had seen, during the past
days, those roan-red Renthans which allowed riders from Escore to mount them.

As with the Renthan these new mounts wore no reins, no sign of restraint to any wills save their
own. They stood taller than any Torgian and their shining coats were uniformly black.

As they tossed their heads, snorting at the movement of the guards, those close enough could see
that their large eyes were of a startling vivid blue--that of the freshest of summer sky. Yet--

"Keplians!" Someone in that crowd had raised the cry. The woman rider leaned a little forward,
her hand on the arching neck of the mare she rode.

"We are of the Light!" Her voice had a note of challenge. "Think you we could have passed your
defenses else?" She turned a little to wave her hand at the wall behind her.

There was a glow, and then for an instant a flashing blaze of a blue pattern. Those standing there
cried out in confusion. Dimly they had known that Es had defenses other than those ready to man her
walls with sword and axe, but never in memory had they seen it proved.

The captain of the gate raised his gauntleted hand in salute, his men crowded back, and the two
who rode steeds out of ancient nightmares- paced on as if they approached their own stable yard. Yet
they left witnesses who had seen plenty to talk of, and rumor spread wide and fast. Who the two
strangers were and how they had come to make peace with Keplians, monsters of the Dark lands, no
one knew. But no one could deny that the woman had summoned the signs of Power to prove they were