"Stephen Lawhead - Dragon King 02 - The Warlords of Nin" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lawhead Stephen)

see something.”
Quentin turned and sat up. He peered intently into Toli’s face, lit on one
side by the firelight. He could not read the expression there.
“What is it? Have you at last seen the White Stag?”
“No, nothing so important.” Toli dismissed the jest. “I thought you
might want to see this....” He led Quentin a short space away from the fire
and the overhanging boughs of the trees.
“Look to the east... there just above the Wall. Do you see it?”
“A star? Yes, I see it—that very bright star.”
“See how it shines. Do you think it odd?”
“It is the Wolf Star. But you are right; it does have a different look
tonight. What do you make of it?”
Toli gazed upward at the brilliant star and at last turned away, saying, “I
do not know what to make of it. I only wanted you to see it, so that we
may be agreed about it.”
Quentin was not satisfied with this answer. Toli, evidently withholding
something, declined to speak further. There was no use in pushing the
matter further until the Jher was ready to say more. Whatever was
tumbling around in that head, thought Quentin, would come out sooner or
later, but only when Toli desired it so. He would wait. Quentin sighed and
rolled himself once more in his cloak and fell to sleep.
 THREE
FROM THE sound of the gurgling crash which filled the rock-rimmed
canyon, the Arvin’s first cataract lay just ahead. Blazer and Riv picked
their way among the loose stones of the canyon floor as Quentin and Toli
scanned the soaring cliffs above. All around them towered jagged spires of
rock. They moved carefully, as through a giant’s petrified forest.
They passed between two large outcroppings of dull brown stone upon
which rested a great slab forming the posts and lintel of an enormous
doorway. “Azrael’s Gate,” muttered Quentin as they passed quickly
through, and then, brightening considerably, “Look! Eskevar’s road.” He
pointed across Arvin’s racing headwaters to the other side where the road
began.
Without hesitation Quentin urged his steed forward into the frigid water.
The swift stream splashed around the horse’s legs and wet his rider to the
knees. Quentin found the icy tingle the perfect tonic to banish the
oppressive forboding which had settled upon him as it always did when he
rode through the eerie canyon which ended in Azrael’s Gate. Now, with
that behind and the clear wide road ahead, his spirits suddenly lifted.
“It won’t be long now,” he called over his shoulder to Toli, just then
splashing into the course. “Tomorrow night we will dine with Durwin, and
the following will see us at the Dragon King’s table.”
“I thought you were the one for haste,” replied Toli. “We can do better
than that!” At these words he slapped Riv over the shoulders with the reins
and leaned into the saddle. The horse spurted ahead, sending torrents of
icy water up into the air as he surged past Quentin and clattered up out of
the stream and struck for the road.
“A challenge!” shouted Quentin at Toli’s retreating figure. He snapped
Blazer’s reins as they clambered out of the water and dashed after Toli in
chase.