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

Jaldaric opened his mouth to speak, but at first no sound came. тАШIt was here,тАЩ he managed eventually,
gazing around. тАШI didnтАЩt recognize it until I turned round and looked back down the hill. It was here. The
Mandrocs.тАЩ

ArinndierтАЩs eyes narrowed at JaldaricтАЩs patent distress.

Tel-Mindor caught ArinndierтАЩs eye and drew his gaze to the bushes and shrubs that lined the road. They
still bore signs of the damage where the Mandrocs had crashed through in pursuit of the High Guards.

тАШWould you like to be alone?тАЩ Arinndier asked.

Jaldaric shook his head. тАШNo,тАЩ he said. тАШI stand here alone every night as it is. Watching . . . Aelang . . .
struggling with his cloak and then smiling.тАЩ He put his hand to his face involuntarily as if to block AelangтАЩs
swift and savage blow. It was a well-rehearsed movement. As Arinndier watched him he noted with
regret the grimness in his face and abruptly he was reminded of EldricтАЩs ferocious father.

Tel-Mindor stepped forward and took JaldaricтАЩs arm. тАШSay farewell to your friends now, Jal,тАЩ he said
gently. тАШLeave them here. There are no good places to die violently, but there are worse than here.тАЩ

Jaldaric clenched his teeth. тАШI will stay a moment,тАЩ he said. тАШYou carry on. IтАЩll join you shortly.тАЩ

The three men were silent after they walked away from the young man. Each knew that there was little
they could do to ease JaldaricтАЩs burden, and while grief is a rending emotion, watching it in someone else
is precious little easier.

Eventually Jaldaric rejoined them, his face set and emotionless. No one spoke and, mounting up, the
party set off again.

As Fyndal had promised, the villagers they encountered had been told of their coming and they found
themselves being offered an abundance of food and drink. Having brought adequate supplies with them,
they tried to decline this generosity, only to find that Fyndal had laid gentle traps for them.

тАШYes, we know youтАЩre in a hurry with your news, but you can eat this while you ride,тАЩ was the comment
that invariably ended their hesitant refusals.

Jaldaric in particular was visibly moved by the warmth of the greeting he received.
 After passing through Little Hapter, Arinndier carefully stowed a large pie in his saddlebag and looked at
the others a little shamefacedly. тАШI couldnтАЩt refuse the woman, could I?тАЩ he asked. тАШThey must think
weтАЩve had a famine at home, not a war. Are there many more villages between here and Anderras
Darion, Jal?тАЩ

тАШIтАЩm afraid so,тАЩ Jaldaric replied, now much more relaxed, and smiling broadly.

тАШWe shouldтАЩve brought another pack-horse,тАЩ Tel-Mindor said, chuckling.

Jaldaric nodded. тАШThey do take some pride in their hospitality,тАЩ he said. тАШBut if you want the benefit of
my local knowledge, whatever you do, donтАЩt start admiring their carving, or weтАЩllnever reach Anderras
Darion.тАЩ

Their first encounters with the Orthlundyn however, whilst burdening their packs, had eased their