"Andre Norton & A C Crispin - Song Smith - uc" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

agreed to provide us with entertainment this stormy eve. Give
heed to the Lady—" He hesitated, realizing he'd neglected to
ask the bard's name, and she whispered, with a wry smile,
"Eydryth of Kar Garudwyn."

". . . the Lady Eydryth of Kar Garudwyn!" Mylt finished
with a flourish. A polite silence fell.

Eydryth began playing, a rollicking, toe-tapping tune, lim-
bering her fingers while sizing up her audience. All male, and
most of them sailors or fishermen. Sea-songs would go well,
then, tales of lost loves, of sweet-voiced sirens and of noble
deeds. Perhaps a bawdy one to finish, making them laugh,
even as they tossed coins into her harp case. . . .

"Give heed, kind sirs, to a tune taught me aboard the Sulcar

6 ANDRE NORTON AND A.C. CRISPIN

ship Osprey," she said, hoping fervently that the cold damp-
ness of this day's sailing had not thickened her voice. "It
concerns a force of men gathered by one of your legendary
heroes during the K-older War, one Simon Tregarth. I give you
'The Riving of the Border.' "

Eydryth began singing, softly at first; then, as her voice
warmed up, her contralto rang out, filling the smoke-thick-
ened air with clear, true notes:

We pledged fair Estcarp's bounds to hold
We men who ride with Tregarth's band
That witches might, with knowledge old,
Avenge the wrongs done in our land.

Of Falconer blood and elder race

We ride, united by one will—

To keep the invaders from this place;

Send sword and falcon forth to kill!

As she finished the second verse and began the third, the
young woman glanced quickly from face to face. Her audience
was leaning forward, all conversation forgotten. Tension
eased from her as she realized that the people here in the Port
of Eslee were equally susceptible to the "spell" cast by flying
fingers and trained voice as were the folk overseas in High
Hallack or her home in spell-shrouded Arvon. She hoped
they'd be as generous with their coin offerings; it had taken