"Andre Norton - Witch World - The Warding of the Witch World" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

Gryphon. Eydryth's own father Jervon had not been among them, but he was a fighting man without talent
and readily accepted that his worth lay in another direction. But TrevorтАФyes, the newbornтАФhad been
named to their chosen circle, though he was but a child. Firdun had not, in spite of his obvious power.

Trevor, however, had fastened upon the older youth as a life model. He dogged Firdun whenever he
could and, while Firdun was never harsh with him, he now avoided the child as much as he was able.

"Firdun said," Trevor was continuing, "that we would go to see the horses. The choosing." His large eyes
were shining. "Could be one might even choose me and then Father would not say I was too little to ride
except with him."

Suddenly Eydryth shivered. She had no farseeing talent, but it was as if a dark troubling had touched her
for an instant.

To her surprise, Trevor swung away from her. At the same time she heard the pounding of hastening
boots on stairs. A moment later Alon burst into the courtyard and skidded to a sudden stop just before
he crashed into the two of them, as if he could not control the force of the necessity which had brought
him. One of his hands fell on Trevor's small shoulder and he pulled the small body closer. At the same
time he reached also to Eydryth as if he must embrace them both, as he was looking in the same direction
as Trevor.

There was nothing to be seenтАФnot for her. But she swept fingers across the harp strings and their
answer was much louder than she had sought forтАФalmost nearing the blast of a battle horn.

Alon shook his head at her as he pushed her brother into her arms, taking a position before the two of
them. Trevor was wriggling and Eydryth had a hard time holding him under control.

The troubling! It was not just a touch now. From the camp in the valley below, as far as that was from
them, they heard a dulled shouting, the screams of fear-maddened horses.

"Garth Howell rides!" Alon spat.

Eydryth shivered. Those of Garth Howell had good reason to hateher . Fueled by rage, she had
curse-sung one of their great warriors. Yet never before had those shadow ones ventured out of what
they considered their own territory. They nested upon their stores of unknown knowledge with far fiercer
protection than the scholars of Lormt guardedtheir finds.

Alon was moving toward the vast gate of the castle. Eydryth, one arm about Trevor, her other hand
grasping her harp, was quick to follow. But already the others were coming up the castle rise, their
horses hard pressed. Kerovan played rearguard and Jervon had drawn sword readily, save that against
their foes steel was of little value.

Nevertheless they dismounted, sending the horses into the courtyard with sharp slaps on the rumps.
Then, as archers at the forefront of a coming battle, they formed a line.

Kerovan and Alon were shoulder to shoulder, flanked by their wives, then Hyana and Trevor. Eydryth
began to hum.

They ride to the Dragon Crest!