"Lawrence Watt-Evans - Dus 1 - Lure Of The Basilisk" - читать интересную книгу автора (Watt-Evans Lawrence)

"You could not know whither I rode."
"The road you followed leads only there; the highways to Lagur and Ilnan
have been abandoned, and all traffic thither takes other routes."
"So you told Shang of my approach; and then?"
"We asked him for powerful weapons, for magicks to slay you with to
avenge our comrades and protect Mormoreth. He refused, saying that such were
not necessary to stop a lone adventurer, and that he could not risk letting
such as us use them. Instead, he gave us the charm of the invisible wall."
"I would see this charm."
"That was no part of our bargain" The bandit drew back.
"As you will." The overman thought briefly without striking upon any
other questions, then said, "Let us see to your fellows." He failed to notice
Dansin's surprise when he so readily abandoned his claim to the magical
prison.
Fitting actions to words, Dansin, Garth, and Elmil found that of the
three other bandits the first was unconscious from his fall but appeared
otherwise unhurt, while the other two were quite dead. Next Garth removed the
spear from the warbeast's shoulder and treated the wound as best he could. It
was not deep, as the point had been embedded in a fold of hide rather than in
muscle or bone. The warbeast seemed indifferent to its injuries, save that it
licked at each scratch once or twice.
This done, Garth said, "You may take your comrade and go in peace. I
ask, however, that you loan Elmil and myself your two extra horses, since you
no longer need them. I will return them in Elmil's keeping when I release
him."
"Very well." Thus it was arranged, and minutes later Dansin vanished
into the darkness, riding his own horse while leading another with the
unconscious bandit draped across it, and leaving Garth, Elmil, Koros, two
horses and two corpses scattered about the faintly glowing remains of a
campfire.
Within minutes, Garth and Elmil were asleep again, while Koros nibbled
on one of the corpses.


CHAPTER FOUR

They awoke late the next day, well after dawn, due to the interruption of
their sleep, and were not under way again until almost noon. Now Elmil rode
upon one horse, the other carried part of Garth's supplies, and Garth himself
rode in comfort astride Koros once more.
The day passed without incident, and their next camp was made at sunset
on the edge of the valley of Mormoreth. The towers of the city glittered on
the horizon, tall spires of white stone bright against the deepening blue of
the eastern sky.
The air was warmer on this side of the mountains as well, and the valley
was green and lush with the spring. There were very few trees, as the entire
area was farmland; instead, the crops and grasses lay like a thick green
carpet in the shadow of the mountains. Garth had rarely seen farms before,
being a citydweller, and never any so rich; the scene was beautiful in a way
he had never known before, for in his homeland the only beauties were those of