"Andre Norton - Witch World - Warlock of the Witch World" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

one’s flesh was a deformity one should conceal from the world.
 Then his eyes arose from my hand to meet mine, and again I thought I read
amusement in them—the kind of amusement some men find in the misshapen. And he
knew that I knew—yet that only added to his amusement.

I must warn them, I thought feverishly. Kyllan—Kaththea—Surely they could share
my apprehension and vague suspicion of this man. Let us but get to ourselves again and I
would bring them into my mind so they could be on their guard. On guard against what?
And why? To that I had no answer.
My eyes went once more to the map. And now, with a kind of defiance, I used my
ridged hand with its two stiffened fingers, to smooth it. In me anger was cold and deadly.

Ethutur spoke at last. “It is then decided that we send out the summons to the
Krogan, the Thas—”

“Do not count upon them too much, my lord.” That was Dinzil. “They are still neutral,
yes. But it may well be their desire to remain so.”
I heard an impatient exclamation from Dahaun. “If they believe that when battle is
once enjoined they can be so, then they are fools!”
“In our eyes, perhaps,” Dinzil answered her. “We look upon one side of a shield, my
lady. They may not yet look upon the other. But neither do they wish to make such a
choice at another’s bidding. Knowing the Krogan at least, for we of the Heights have had
some dealings with them in the past, we are also aware that if they are pushed they snap
at the pusher. Therefore, approach them we must, but let it be done with no pressure.
Give them time after the warn-sword is passed to hold their own council. Above all, do
not show them an angry face if they say you nay. For this will not be a short struggle we
now enter upon, but a long one. Those who stand uncommitted at its beginning, may be
drawn in before its ending. If we would have them join behind our war horns, then leave
them to their choices in their own time.”
I saw Ethutur nod agreement, as did the others. We could not raise contrary voices,
since this was their land and they knew it. But I thought it was never wise to war in a
country where there are those uncommitted to either side, for a neutral can turn enemy
suddenly and find an unprotected flank to attack.

“We send out the warn-sword to the Krogan, the Thas—the moss-ones?” Ethutur
ended on a questioning note.
Dahaun laughed. “The moss-ones? Perhaps—if any can find them. But they follow too
much their own ways. Those we can count upon wholly stand here and now—is that what
you would tell us, Lord Dinzil?”
He shrugged. “Who am I to call the roll of those who walk apart from my own men,
Lady? It is but proper caution to awake, or summon, naught but those we have had
dealings with in the past. Change and counterchange have wrought deeply here. Perhaps
even long-ago friends are not now to be trusted. Yes, I would say that what army we can
trust to the blooding stand now within this safe Valley of yours—or shall when we marshal
all our forces. The hills shall be horned. To the low country, yours the summons.”

I had not dared to call mind to mind in that assembly, so I was impatient for its
breaking. As yet we had but small idea of what powers or gifts those about us had—so I
would not so summon my kin. Thus it was much later that I tried to get speech with them
apart. I had the first luck with Kyllan as he rode with Horvan to seek a camping place for