Knights of Dark Renown by David Gemmell

Author:David Gemmell [Gemmell, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780307797513
Publisher: Random House, Inc.
Published: 2011-06-07T23:00:00+00:00

Despite the heavy cloak and the sheepskin gloves, two pairs of woolen leggings, and fur-lined boots, Errin was bitterly cold. For two days he had followed Ubadai through the frozen forest, riding at a snail’s pace for fear of injuries to their mounts. Some trails, simple in summer, had become death traps for riders, with ice-covered stones, holes part covered by snow, and trees heavily laden and ready to fall at a breath of wind. Ubadai had said nothing for the whole of the first day, and when they had camped he had built a good fire, rolled into his blankets, and slept until the dawn. Errin knew the tribesman was angry, and the Gabalan lord felt a large measure of guilt over it. He had freed Ubadai, and the Nomad had no reason to follow him back into danger. But then, he had had no reason to ride into Mactha fortress in order to rescue his former master, either. It was baffling.

On the third morning, as the sky cleared, Errin gazed up at the rising sun.

‘Which way are we heading today?’ he asked Ubadai as the tribesman rolled his blankets and strapped them to the saddle of his horse. Ubadai pointed to a trail through the trees.

‘But that’s east, isn’t it?’ asked Errin. Ubadai nodded but said nothing. ‘Oh, come on, Ubadai, speak to me. Why are we heading east?’

The tribesman grunted something inaudible, then turned to face Errin. ‘No tracks, yes? Everywhere fresh snow. No chance to find woman. We go back.’

‘We ought to search a little longer. We’ve only been here two days.’

‘This is search. Two choices. The men either good or bad, yes. If good, they walk through near Royal Road, to the south. If bad, they swing back. Wait till Cartain is gone, deliver woman to Pertia Port when fleet comes in, yes? If they are good men, we have lost them. If bad, I think they come this way.’

‘That’s just a guess,’ said Errin.

‘Yes. But I am tracker, not wizard. They travel eastward on first day—not very good reason for that.’

‘How do you know that?’

‘The cave yesterday where we rested? There were remains of two fires, and tracks to show three people—one with small feet but long stride. Only three people? Then why two fires? Woman sits apart.’

Errin shrugged. It was little to go on, but Ubadai was the master in this venture. ‘You do not want to be here, do you?’ he said as he climbed into the saddle.

Ubadai mounted his horse and gave a sour grin, gesturing to the ice-covered trail. ‘You want to be here?’

‘That’s not what I meant; it is a duty for me. But why did you agree to come? Why did you come back for me in Mactha?’

‘Plenty stupid, maybe,’ muttered Ubadai, edging his mount forward.

For two hours they rode until they slithered down a steep slope toward a small grove of pine trees. Ubadai drew his mount to a halt and slipped his bow from under his saddlebags.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.