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

Watching him, AgrethтАЩs uncertainty returned. This was the man that Oslang called his leader? What was
he doing?

Finally, Andawyr bent down, made a snowball, placed it carefully on top of his handiwork and stood
back to admire the result тАУ a tiny snowman.

тАШThere,тАЩ he said, beaming. тАШIsnтАЩt that splendid?тАЩ He saluted the small figure. тАШEnjoy the view little fellow.
Enjoy the peace and quiet. No one will disturb you when weтАЩve gone. Have a happy winter. Light be
with you.тАЩ

Brushing the caked snow from his arms, he turned to Agreth who was struggling to keep his doubts from
his face. Andawyr laughed. тАШDonтАЩt worry,тАЩ he said. тАШIтАЩm still here. But the day I canтАЩt appreciate being
eight years old, will be a sad one for me.тАЩ

Then he was off again, as briskly as the snow would allow. тАШCome on,тАЩ he shouted over his shoulder.
тАШWeтАЩve a long way to go yet.тАЩ

Agreth patted his horse hesitantly, as if for reassurance, then set off after him.

Later in the day, the snow stopped falling and the sky lightened a little, bringing more distant peaks into
view, which Andawyr dutifully identified for Agreth on his map. They walked on slowly and carefully,
sometimes talking, sometimes in silence, sometimes just concentrating where they were putting their feet
as they negotiated steep and treacherous slopes.

As they walked, however, they moved gradually downwards, away from the colder heights, and the
snow became less deep. Eventually, reaching the valley floor, Agreth announced that they could ride for a
spell, and Andawyr found himself astride the horse in front of the Muster rider.

тАШFeel like an eight-year-old again?тАЩ Agreth asked, laughing.

Andawyr looked down nervously at the snow-covered ground passing underneath his dangling feet. It
was much further below than he had imagined when he had been looking up at the horse. тАШItтАЩll take me a
little time,тАЩ he said dubiously.

Agreth laughed again.

Being able to ride from time to time enabled them to make good progress, and late in the afternoon
Andawyr professed himself well pleased. Towards nightfall, however, the snow started to fall again, and
the wind rose suddenly, obliging the two men to make their camp in some haste. As they pitched
AndawyrтАЩs tent, the landscape around them slowly began to disappear in a whirling haze.

At last, Andawyr ushered Agreth into the tent and then struck the beacon torch with some relish. As he
joined him inside he found that the Muster rider was examining one of the radiant stones.
тАШThesehave been baked, without a doubt,тАЩ he said in a tone of irritated regret, throwing the stone back
with the others. тАШYou should have a word with whoever does your buying.тАЩ

тАШI will,тАЩ Andawyr replied, a little more tersely than he had intended, then without hesitation he ignited the
stones as he had the previous night.