"Roger Taylor - Hawklan 4 - Into Narsindal" - читать интересную книгу автора (Taylor Roger)

Geadrol had been suspended, and Berryn had found the threads binding him to his old commonsense
reality were stretched to breaking point. Now, in his simple statement, the young Orthlundyn had severed
them utterly.

Oddly, the Rede felt more at ease, as many past events took on a new perspective.

Battle nerves, he thought suddenly. Just battle nerves. All that furious turmoil before you finally turn
round and face the truth. The realization made him smile.

‘You find the idea amusing,’ Fyndal said, misinterpreting the smile and uncertain whether to be indignant
or reproachful.

The Rede looked at him intently. Young men preparing for war again, and doubtless old men
encouraging them. Well he’d be damned if he’d play that game!

‘No,’ he said, his voice stern but sad. ‘I’ve ridden the Watch and done my time in Narsindal.’ He
tapped the scar on his head. ‘I’m only sorry I stopped watching too soon. Sorry for my sake, sorry for
your sake.’

Something in the man’s voice made Arinndier look at him. ‘Don’t reproach yourself, Rede,’ he said.
‘You weren’t alone. And at least we can see more clearly now. We’ve no time for self-indulgence. You
ensured that Hawklan reached Vakloss. Without that, all could well have been lost.’ He turned back to
Fyndal. ‘We need to bring our news to Loman and the Memsa as soon as possible,’ he said. ‘Have you
made your judgement about us yet, soldier?’

‘Yes,’ Fyndal replied, taken unawares by his kindly bluntness. ‘Some time ago.’ Then his youth showed
on his face. ‘Can you tell us nothing about Hawklan?’ he asked, almost plaintively.

Arinndier shook his head regretfully and repeated his previous reply. ‘At Anderras Darion, soldier,’ he
replied. ‘And only then as determined by Loman and Memsa Gulda.’

For a moment, Fyndal seemed inclined to pursue the matter, but then with a resigned nod of his head, he
let it go. ‘I’ll ensure that you’re not delayed then,’ he said. ‘I’ll have the post riders send news of your
arrival ahead. That will save you a great deal of time, though I fear you may find Loman and Memsa
away with the army in the mountains still.’

‘You have an army mobilized?’ Arinndier asked, trying to keep the surprise out of his voice.
Fyndal nodded.

Arinndier pulled his cloak around himself as a sudden gust of the cold raw wind that had been blowing in
their faces all day buffeted them.

‘There’s winter in the wind,’ he said. ‘I don’t envy anyone doing a mountain exercise in this.’

‘It’s no exercise, Lord,’ Fyndal said, his face suddenly grim. ‘They’re out trying to deal with an
unexpected foe.’

Arinndier raised his eyebrows and opened his mouth to speak, but a brief knowing smile from Fyndal
stopped him.