"Andre Norton - WW - 18 Port of Dead Ships" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

But tied to the bird warriors I was though I did not guess it then or for years to come. Time passed and I
did not count the days.

However, my power grew. That which had stirred in me when I had fronted the snow cat strengthened
by use even as did my limb. I began to put more thought to such things, casting my crystals, seeking out
birds and small field creatures. Then I gained a liege one of my own.

There had been a storm and after its fury had passed I rode out to the edge of the wild lands. These
were hedged by forest which made a living wall around Lormt save for where the road (somewhat
overgrown) passed and where the river Es curled. There came to me a whimpering, and it was the space
of several breaths before I realized that I had caught that, not by ear, but by thought. I took it as a guide
and it led me to where, trapped much as I had been in the mountains, lay a thin, shaggy-coated hound. It
was a beast of fine breeding though it was all bones and its long hair showed neglect. Nor did it wear a
collar. As I knelt it drew lip to show teeth and I noted a mark across its muzzle as if a whip lash had left a
scar, I looked into eyes which were fearful and I loosed thought to calm and comfort. It sniffed my
fingers and then licked them.

Luckily it had shared my fate no further, for it was only a prisoner and wounded by the matter of a
scratch or two. I worked apart the branch of bramble which was its last binding and it arose to four feet
and shook itself, took one step and then two away from me. Then it looked over its shoulder and came
back, while from it to me flowed gratitude.

Thus I found Rawit and she was no common hound, but one that had been hardly used and had come to
know my sort only as an enemy who punished. Though from the moment she came to me there was no
barrier between us. Her thoughts flowed, even if sometimes they were hard to understand, but there was
exchange between us and I found this a wonder which seemingly was as great a one to her.

We had visitors--mainly a trader or two who brought that which could not be raised in our well-tended
fields, salt, scrap iron which Janton, the smith, used with great expertise. Also there were Borderers
passing and from them we learned of the war. I asked of Kemoc and only once did I have news. That
came from a horse dealer who had sold him a Torgian. But more than that I did not know.

There was a time when restlessness gnawed at me. I took to riding the woods' boundaries, Rawit
running by my side. Though we were well away from the mountains and no raiders came, still I felt a need
for such patrols.

Morfew told me once that the ancients who had built here had set over the whole site a guard of Power
and those sheltering within the walls need have no fear. Still I borrowed a spade and smoothed out that
ridge of earth which kept the great gate from being closed.

As my unease increased I fell into the habit of each morning throwing the crystals as I arose. Oddly,
Rawit always came from her bed at the foot of mine to watch. And each day I threw only those which
were the red of blood and the smoke grey of dying fires. Yet when I tried to share my foreboding with
Morfew, he shook his head and told me the ancients guarded well their own.

My wariness was given credit when a troop of Borderers came. These were no scouts nor being sent to
turn some raid. Rather they carried with them all that they owned packed on ponies. From both men and
animals-even more from the animals--I sensed some strange peril.

Their captain gathered those scholars who would heed him, and the farm people, to share the warning