"Greenwood, Ed - Shandril 02 - Crown of Fire_v1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Greenwood Ed)

village. Brann looked east again, a view he knew very well. There was no
sign of anyone following them. He turned and stared curiously at the
sweat-darkened back of the young wizard as the strangers went over the
hill and began to descend out of sight.

His mouth was suddenly dry. His hands, as they dipped to his belt,
trembled; he almost dropped the horn. So this is excitement, he thought.
Brann shook his head, and blew. The horn call wavered and then grew
steady, high, and clear.

The high song of a shepherd's horn was ringing off the walls of houses
as the three tired adventurers came down into Thundarlun. Before them
rose the watchful stone bulk of the guardhouse, where Delg had known it
would be. On benches along its wall, Purple Dragon soldiers sat alert,
watching with interest in their eyes as the three approached.

Delg guided Narm down onto the dusty road, and the soldiers frowned and
rose, catching up halberds from where they leaned against the guardhouse
wall. One shouted into the building as the weary travelers came close
enough to see wary faces and ready weapons. A Purple Dragon with a hard
face and a gray mustache appeared from within and strode out into the
road to block their way. The sword of a guardcaptain gleamed high on the
shoulders of his surcoat.

"Halt, travelers!" His voice was deep and level, but not unfriendly.
"You seem in some trouble and are come to Cormyr, Realm of the Purple
Dragon. State your names and what you seek here."

Delg looked up at him and silently and imperiously gestured at a soldier
to approach. The man glanced toward his commander. The guardcaptain
appraised the dustcovered dwarf and then nodded. Holding his halberd
warily, the soldier stepped closer.

Delg shifted the limp girl he held into Narm's grasp, staggering just a
bit as the burden left him. Under her full weight, the young wizard sank
to his knees in the dust. The soldier moved to help; Delg ignored them
both. Keeping his hands well away from his axe, the dwarf strode forward
to confront the Cormyrean commander. His beard jutted defiantly as he
looked around at all of the guards, raising his hand to show them its
emptiness before reaching slowly to his throat. He drew something out
from under his mail, something that hung from a silver neck-chain, and
cupped his hand around it as he showed it to the Purple Dragon
guardcaptain.

The man frowned down at it, and then slowly raised his eyes to meet the
dwarf's steady gaze. They looked at each other for a long, silent
moment, and then the guardcaptain waved to the soldiers on his right.
"Take her in, fast." He added, to Delg, "Our wizard's within."

Shandril's head swam. The light had changed; she was inside a building