"Roger Taylor - Hawklan 4 - Into Narsindal" - читать интересную книгу автора (Taylor Roger)

Andawyr gave a resigned sigh. тАШRiddinvolk I presume,тАЩ he said and, without waiting for an answer, he
gathered his cloak about himself tightly and, with an ill grace, stepped out into the howling darkness.

Fortunately the horse was nearby, standing at the edge of the circle of light cast by the tentтАЩs beacon
torch. Andawyr suddenly felt his irritation and concern pushed aside by a feeling of humility at the sight of
the animal standing patiently in the snow-streaked light, head bowed against the storm. Few travelled
these mountains at any time, and none would normally be travelling at this time of year, yet, on an impulse
he had lit his beacon torch; and now it had drawn this lone traveller and his mount here and undoubtedly
saved his life.

He struck his hand torch and walked over to the horse, staggering a little as the powerful wind drove
into him. тАШCome on, Muster horse,тАЩ he said, taking the animalтАЩs bridle. тАШItтАЩs a little more sheltered over
here. Your duties are over for the night. IтАЩll look after your charge.тАЩ

The horse looked at him soulfully for a moment, then yielded to the gentle pressure.

Returning to the tent, Andawyr found the new arrivalтАЩs concern unchanged. тАШMy horse?тАЩ he asked, his
voice still weak.

тАШIтАЩve thrown a couple of your blankets over him and put him in the lee of some rocks,тАЩ Andawyr said.
тАШItтАЩs not ideal, but he should be all right. IтАЩve given him a fodder bag as well.тАЩ

The man relaxed visibly and Andawyr shook his head. тАШYou people and your horses,тАЩ he said. тАШYouтАЩre
incredible. Now letтАЩs have a look at you.тАЩ

The man offered no resistance to AndawyrтАЩs examination.

тАШYouтАЩre lucky,тАЩ Andawyr said when he had finished. тАШThereтАЩs no frost damage to your hands and face,
and judging from your boots I presume you can still feel all your toes?тАЩ

The man nodded. тАШI should have stopped sooner,тАЩ he said, still weak. тАШI misjudged the storm.тАЩ

тАШYouтАЩre not alone,тАЩ Andawyr said. тАШLuckily youтАЩre only chilled and exhausted, but itтАЩs a good job you
saw my light. You wouldnтАЩt have made it through the night.тАЩ He moved the tray of radiant stones as far
away from the man as he could, then with a flick of his fingers he made them a little brighter. тАШKeep away
from the stones,тАЩ he said. тАШJust lie still and rest. YouтАЩll soon warm up in here, itтАЩs a well-sealed tent: airy
and snug.тАЩ

The man nodded again, sleepily. тАШThank you,тАЩ he mouthed softly. He made an attempt to say something
else but it turned into an incomprehensible mumble as he succumbed to his fatigue.

Andawyr looked at him closely. He was a heavily built man, in late middle age, he judged, and from the
quality of his clothes, wealthy; definitely not a man one might expect to find roaming the mountains,
especially at this time of year.

Nodding to himself thoughtfully, he lay down again. There would be plenty of time tomorrow to find out
who the man was and why he was there.

Another flick of his fingers dimmed the radiant stones to their original redness. No point using the Old
Power too much. He smiled as he caught the almost reflexive thought. The tent would retain the heat, and