"Brooks, Terry - First King of Shannara" - читать интересную книгу автора (Brooks Terry)

"Yes." Bremen's voice was alert, but calm. "One of them
tracks me."

"You are certain? It follows your trail, not another's?"

First King ofShannara 15

"Somehow I was careless in my passage out." Bremen's eyes
glittered. "It knows I have passed this way and seeks to find where
I have gone. I wasn't seen within the Skull Kingdom, so this is a
chance discovery. I should have used more caution crossing the
plains, but I thought myself safe."

They watched as the Skull Bearer reappeared, lifting skyward
momentarily, gliding soundlessly across the landscape, then low-
ering into shadow once more.

"There is time yet before it reaches us," Bremen whispered. "I
think we should be on our way. We will disguise our tracks to con-
fuse it should it choose to follow us further. Paranor and the
Druids await. Come, Kinson."

Together they rose and slipped back through the shadows and
down the far side of the hill into the trees. They went soundlessly,
their movements smooth and practiced, their dark forms seeming
to glide across the earth.

In seconds they had disappeared from view.

II

They walked the remainder of the night through the shel-
tering forest, Kinson leading, Bremen a shadow fol-
lowing in his footsteps. Neither spoke, comfortable with
the silence and each other. They did not see the Skull Bearer
again. Bremen used magic to hide their tracks. Just enough to con-
ceal their passing without calling attention to it. But it seemed the
winged hunter had chosen not to go below the Streleheim in its
search, for had it done so they would have sensed its presence. As
it was, they sensed only the creatures who lived there and no
others. For the moment at least, they were safe.




Kinson Ravenlock's stride was tireless, its fluid movement

16 First King qfShannara