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

their pikes and rushed forward to take . . . the girl. She killed three of them with terrible skull-splitting
blows, but . . .

тАШSo I slew her. I slew my friend. With a single stroke. I saw her head tumbling red and gold down the
slope and into the darkness under those countless trampling feet.тАЩ He shook his head. тАШBetter that than
that she be taken alive.

тАШThe rest of her attackers fled back to their pikes and the enemy began its final slow advance. Back to
back we held. Pushed aside and broke their long spears. Killed several. Then my last friend and ally fell
and I . . .тАЩ He faltered.

тАШHe said тАЬIтАЩm sorry,тАЭ even as he fell . . .

тАШThat last burden was my end and I too sank to my knees . . .тАЩ

Chapter 1

Startled, Jaldaric spun round as the rider appeared suddenly out of the trees and galloped to his side.
His right hand began moving reflexively towards his sword, but a cautionary hiss from Tel-Mindor
stopped it. Abruptly, a second rider appeared on the other side of the road and moved to flank
Arinndier.

Tel-Mindor looked behind. Three more riders were following. Despite himself, his concern showed
briefly on his face. Not because the five men seemed to offer any immediate menace, though they were
armed, but because he had not seen them, and that indicated both wilful concealment and no small skill
on their part. However, his Goraidin nature did not allow the concern to persist. Instead he began to feel
a little easier; the actual appearance of the men confirmed the unease he had felt growing for some time.

тАШHello,тАЩ said the first new arrival to Jaldaric, his face unexpectedly friendly. тАШIтАЩm sorry I startled you.
WeтАЩve been following you since you came out of the mountains, but your friend here,тАЩ тАУ he nodded
towards Tel-Mindor тАУ тАШwas on the point of spotting us, so I thought it would save problems if we
approached you directly.тАЩ

His manner was pleasant enough but, still unsettled by the manтАЩs abrupt arrival, JaldaricтАЩs reply was
harsher than he had intended.

тАШFollowing?тАЩ he said. тАШDo the Orthlundyn always follow visitors to their country?тАЩ
 тАШNo, no,тАЩ the man replied with a smile. тАШYouтАЩre the first.тАЩ His smile turned into a laugh. тАШIn fact youтАЩre
the only people whoтАЩve come out of Fyorlund since we started border duty. It was good practice for us.тАЩ
He extended his hand. тАШMy nameтАЩs Fyndal, and this is my brother Isvyndal.тАЩ

JaldaricтАЩs natural courtesy made him take the hand, though part of him remembered Aelang, and was
alert for a sudden attack. тАШThis is the Lord Arinndier, the Rede Berryn and his aide Tel-Mindor,тАЩ he said,
indicating his three companions. тАШIтАЩm Jaldaric, son of the Lord Eldric.тАЩ

This time it was Fyndal who started. тАШJaldaric,тАЩ he echoed, his eyes widening. Then, as if uncertain how
to phrase the question, тАШJaldaric who came with Dan-Tor and kidnapped Tirilen?тАЩ

JaldaricтАЩs face coloured at the reminder of his previous visit to Orthlund. тАШYes,тАЩ he said awkwardly,
looking down at his hands briefly. тАШTo my shame.тАЩ