"Andre Norton - Witch World High Halleck 7 - Gryphon In Glory" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

An Old One?
I drew a deep breath, put the dart gun away, knowing well that no man-made
weapon could be used against such. Also I knew that any of the Power that was
without harm for my kind was of that pure color. Just as places of safety in
the
Dales glowed the same shade by night.
She smiled, this woman of the Old Ones. Then she nodded as if the answer to
some
riddle had become clear. Now she held out her right hand to me.
"Come." That was neither order nor invitation, but lay between. Her fingers
closed on mine as I unconsciously reached out. They held fast as if she
half-expected me to jerk away.
Her flesh was as damp and chill from the mist as mine, but no different, that
I
could see, from humankind. I was sure she meant me no harm. Rather she looked
on
me with a smile as if I were one she had been awaiting for a long time.
She drew me on to the fire, and I went willingly enough. As we passed the
man,
he fell in on my other side, his sword now sheathed. He had a strong, comely
face, though there were lines laid deep about his eyes and lips. Yet now he
also
smiled in welcome, as if he were brother-kin.
I sensed almost from the beginning that there was a deep bond between these
two.
They did not speak to each other or to me, but the three of us came
companionably to a pocket where the fire had pushed back most of the mist.
Beyond the flames were two of the larger horses of the lower Dales, now rough
of
coat, such as my uncle had once prized in his stables before he rode south to
die. There was also a pack pony, by which Bural stood, stretching out her
head
so that they might rub noses. All three of the horses had been stripped of
gear,
which was piled, saddles and packs together, behind the fire. At the side of
that were spits whittled from wood impaling the fat, dripping bodies of three
hill hens. The scent of the roasting meat made my mouth water.
The woman laughed, pointing to the hens.
"See even Gunnora has prepared for your coming. There is plenty for all of
us.
Sit, rest, and eat. But firstтАФ" She turned to her companion who, without a
word,
fetched a small saddle cask, drew the stopper from it with his teeth, while
in
his other hand he held a horn cup into which he then poured liquid from the
cask.
The woman took the cup and pressed it into my hands, serving me in the manner
that the lady of a Dale keep does an honored guestтАФthe welcome cup to wash
trail
dust from a wayfarer's throat before he announces himself and his business.