"Katherine Kerr - Deverry 09 - The Red Wyvern" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kerr Katherine)

When he picked it up and blew, the sound seemed very small and thin to bring safety through the rising
storm, but after a few minutes he heard someone shouting.

‘Hola, hola! Where are you?’

‘Here on the shore!’ Domnall called back. ‘Follow the light of the fire.’

Out of the tendrilled snow shone a bobbing gleam, which proved to be a lantern held aloft in someone’s
hand. The magical fire behind cast just enough light for Domnall to see a long narrow boat, with its
wooden prow carved like the head of a dragon, coming toward him. One man held the lantern while six
others rowed, chanting to keep time. As the boat drew near, the oars swung up and began backing
water, holding her steady as her side hove to.

‘It’s a cold night to ask you to wade out to us,’ the lantern bearer called, ‘but we’re afraid to run her
ashore with the rocks and all in the dark.’

‘Better I freeze seeking safety than freeze standing here like a dolt. I’m on my way.’
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He hitched his plaid up around his waist and bundled the cloak around it, then stepped into the lake. The
cold water stole his breath and drove claws into his legs, but it stood shallow enough for him to reach the
dragon boat, where hands of flesh and blood reached down to pull him aboard.

‘Swing around, lads! Let’s get him to a fireside.’

Shivering and huddling in the dry part of his plaid, Domnall crouched in the stern of the boat as they
headed out from shore. In the yellow pool of lantern light he could see the man who held it, a fellow on
the short side but stocky. He wore a hooded cloak, pinned with a silver brooch in the shape of a dragon.
In the uncertain light Domnall could just make out his lined face and grizzled beard.

‘Where are we going, if I may ask?’ Domnall said.

‘The isle of Haen Marn.’

‘Ah.’ Domnall had never heard of the place in his life, and he’d spent all twenty years of it in this corner
of Alban. ‘My thanks.’

No one spoke to him again until they reached the dark island, looming suddenly out of falling snow, a
muffled but precipitous shape against the night. A wooden jetty appeared as well, snow-shrouded in the
lantern light, and with a chant and yell from the oarsmen, the boat turned to. One man rose, grabbed a
hawser, and tossed it over one of the bollards on the jetty to pull them in. With some help Domnall
managed to scramble out, but his feet and legs had gone numb and clumsy. The man with the lantern
hurried him along a gravelled path and up a slope, where he could see a broad, squarish manse. Around
the cracks of door and shutter gleamed firelight.

‘We’ll get you warm soon enough,’ the lantern-bearer said, then banged upon the door. ‘Open up!
We’ve got a guest, and all by Evandar’s doing.’