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

the stones, baked or not, would take back any excess and mature a little.

тАШIтАЩll keep out of sight until weтАЩre sure of this one,тАЩ came Dar-volciтАЩs deep voice softly. Andawyr
muttered his approval, then allowed himself a brief smugness as he closed his eyes; it had been a good
day.

The next morning he was wakened by a gentle shaking. He sat up jerkily, scratching himself and
yawning. His guest was holding a bowl of food out to him.

тАШI took the liberty of making some breakfast for you,тАЩ he said. His voice was quite deep, and rich with
the sing-song Riddin lilt. тАШItтАЩs from my own supplies,тАЩ he added hastily.

Andawyr squeezed the remains of his broken nose. тАШThank you very much,тАЩ he said. тАШThat was kind of
you. IтАЩm afraid itтАЩs a meal IтАЩm apt to neglect.тАЩ

тАШNo, no,тАЩ the stranger said. тАШItтАЩs I who must thank you for looking after my horse and taking me in.тАЩ

Andawyr smiled behind his bowl and paused. Typical Riddinvolk, he thought. Horse first, rider second.
Without asking, he knew that the man would have been out to check on the animal before attending to his
own needs.

The man misunderstood AndawyrтАЩs hesitation. тАШIs the food not warm enough?тАЩ he asked, his voice
concerned. тАШI had a little difficulty with your stones; theyтАЩre not very good, IтАЩm afraid. They look as if
theyтАЩve been baked to me.тАЩ

Andawyr shot the stones an evil glance then returned to his guest. тАШYes,тАЩ he said. тАШThe stones could be
better тАУ bad bargain IтАЩm afraid. But the foodтАЩs fine.тАЩ

тАШMy nameтАЩs Agreth,тАЩ the man said, sitting down heavily and extending his hand. тАШDonтАЩt do the travelling I
used to,тАЩ he added, then flicking a thumb upwards, тАШThis lot wouldnтАЩt have caught me out once.
JudgementтАЩs going, IтАЩm afraid,тАЩ he added.

тАШIтАЩm not so sure,тАЩ Andawyr said. тАШItтАЩs unseasonal to say the least, and it came on very suddenly.тАЩ His
face became intent.

тАШAgreth?тАЩ he said, testing the name until its familiarity brought it into place. тАШYouтАЩre one of Ffyrst
UrthrynтАЩs advisers arenтАЩt you?тАЩ He was about to name AgrethтАЩs House and Decmill by way of a brief
cadenza, but he remembered in time that the Riddinvolk enthusiasm for lineage and family was not
something to be lightly released, and he held his tongue.

Agreth smiled. тАШIndeed I am,тАЩ he said. тАШThough when he finds out I nearly froze to death like some
apprentice stable lad, he might be looking elsewhere for advice.тАЩ
 Andawyr laughed and, laying his bowl down, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. тАШAnd whatтАЩs
one of the FfyrstтАЩs advisers doing alone in the middle of the mountains, halfway to Orthlund, if I might
ask?тАЩ he asked jovially. тАШMorlider come back again?тАЩ

He noted the flicker of reaction in Agreth, though it barely reached the manтАЩs eyes before he had it under
control. тАШNo, no,тАЩ the man replied, with a hint of surprised amusement. тАШJust some private business in
Orthlund.тАЩ