"Mickey Zucker Reichert - Herald's Rescue" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reichert Mickey Zucker)

the horse. "I'm going, already. I'm going!"
The Companion nickered, pawing up divots of muddy weeds. He tossed his head.
Santar glanced ahead, only then noticing the dark mouth of a cave etched against the rocky cliffs.
Suddenly the horse's intention became clear. "He's in there?"
The horse whinnied, head bobbing.
Santar felt a warm wash of relief that he would not have to fight his way up the mountains,
tempered by the realization that he would have to enter a dark cave alone and without a light. The stallion
could never fit inside, which made sense. If he could, he would have scooped up the Herald and assisted
or carried him to safety rather than dragged some stable boy through demon-infested forest and high
water to the Herald. Santar sucked in a deep breath, releasing it in a slow hiss. "All right. I'm going in."
He rose and picked his way to the entrance, staring into the black interior. "Any chance you could help
me find my way around inside?"
The Companion nickered.
"Didn't think so," Santar mumbled. He returned his gaze to the cave, seeing only as far as the
moonlight could penetrate. It did not show him much. "Let me gather some weeds or pebbles, first.
Something to drop and follow back out."
The Companion shook his head wildly, silver mane flying.
A stranger's voice touched Santar's mind then: :I will guide you.:
Startled, Santar whirled. "Who? Who...?"
:Come. I'll guide you.:
The Herald. Santar had heard that Heralds had unusual powers, but it still took him inordinately
long to figure out the obvious. "Can you hear me as well?"
No response. The voice gained a touch of urgency. :Please come. Quickly.:
"I'm coming," Santar promised. If this Herald was like those he had met, he would maintain grace
under pressure, which meant he probably needed help a lot more than he would admit. Santar secretly
wondered if he could do anything worthwhile to assist. He did have a way with horses and their wounds,
but he had never tried his skills on humans. Nevertheless, he plunged into the cave.
The leathery flap of wings filled Santar's hearing, and the air became pungent with guano. A clotted
mass of bats hurtled from the cave, wings beating furiously. Startled, Santar dropped to the floor, ears
filled with the smack and cut of their wild flight. Silence followed, eerie with menace. Though glad the
bats had gone, Santar could not help filling the intensity of the quiet darkness with unseen demons.
:Take your first left,: the voice ordered.
Shocked from his own thoughts, Santar obeyed gratefully. He hoped the Herald would stay with
him in spirit. He felt so much braver with a companion, even a disembodied, faceless one. :All right.:
Santar concentrated on the thought, though the other gave no indication he received the message.
Santar veered leftward, keeping a hand lightly against each damp, musty wall. Better to glide his
fingers through something disgusting than to risk losing his way.
:Skip the next opening to the left, then the one to the right.:
Santar obeyed, passing up both opportunities to turn.
:Now go right.:
Santar did as the other suggested, still scraping the stone with his fingers. Though worried to
interrupt the concentration of the one he sought, he tried tentatively, :Can you understand me, too?:
:Yes,: the other sent. :Go right again.:
Santar did so. :My name is Santar.:
:Orrin. Skip the next right, then go right again. Careful, it's a tight fit.:
Orrin was not kidding. Santar found himself suddenly entering a narrowing that seemed impassable.
If he became wedged, they would both die in the dark, dank interior. :Orrin, I can't fit.:
:You'll fit. Trust me.:
Santar had to keep reminding himself that he spoke with a Herald, one who desperately needed his
help for survival. The idea that he might become stuck fast grew into obsession. Santar realized he alone