"Roger Taylor - Nightfall 2 - Valderen" - читать интересную книгу автора (Taylor Roger)

Copyright ┬й 1993, Roger Taylor
Roger Taylor has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, to be identified
as the Author of this work.
First published by Headline Book Publishing in 1993.
This Edition published in 2003 by Mushroom eBooks, an imprint of Mushroom Publishing, Bath, BA1
4EB, United Kingdom
www.mushroom-ebooks.com
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without
the prior written permission of the publisher.
ISBN 1843191881




Valderen

The Second Part of Farnor's Tale

Roger Taylor

Mushroom eBooks


Chapter 1

The castle gates swung open.

Nilsson turned to watch the swaying silhouette that was moving slowly through the shade of the archway.
He had been assiduously resurrecting the old, long-forgotten habits that had, in the past, ensured both his
survival and his advancement, though it took him some effort to keep his demeanour neutral as Rannick,
astride his foul-tempered mount, emerged into the light. For while Rannick might not yet be the man that
NilssonтАЩs erstwhile master had been, his power was increasing almost daily and, as it grew, so his
humanity inevitably diminished. Nilsson knew only too well that now he had chosen to stand by his new
Lord his life depended solely on the value that Rannick placed on him, and that this value depended in
turn not only on his willingness to serve but on his ability to read and anticipate RannickтАЩs moods
accurately.

And it was especially important now, for he was certain that something had gone amiss during the fiery
demonstration that Rannick had given the previous day. True, the roaring column of fire that had
appeared out of nothingness had been both awe-inspiring and terrifying, and it had sent Gryss and the
others away suitably cowed and humiliated. Yet, increasingly sensitive to his masterтАЩs behaviour, Nilsson
was sure that he had felt Rannick falter. Only slightly, admittedly, but the memory of it had lingered with
him since. It was as if Rannick had been assailed in some way. And he had sensed, too, a grim, almost
desperate, anger begin to mount in the man; an anger that had seemed to be building towards some
appalling conclusion until it had suddenly evaporated into a surprised vagueness at the unexpected
collapse of Gryss and the others on to their knees.

Rannick had stood for a long time apparently staring after the retreating figures as they stumbled away
from the castle, supporting the beaten Farnor. But Nilsson, fearfully willing himself to absolute stillness
lest he inadvertently attract RannickтАЩs attention, saw that his eyes were abstracted and distant.