The Dragon in Lyonesse by Dickson Gordon R

Author:Dickson, Gordon R. [Dickson, Gordon R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Adventure, Fiction, Science Fiction, General, Fantasy
ISBN: 9781627934978
Google: 6TkfAwAAQBAJ
Amazon: B00GXN7MUY
Goodreads: 19156699
Publisher: Start Science Fiction
Published: 1998-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

* * *

Chapter Twenty-Six

« ^ »

"A Hob never gets lost in the dark," said Hob's voice behind him. There was the faint scurry of small, shoeless feet out ahead—then silence. A moment later Jim literally walked into Gorp's wall-like side.

All the horses, of course, had been relieved of all they carried—saddles, bridles, and the sumpter horse's load.

"We must needs ride without gear and goods," said Brian wistfully. "But it were folly to go back and search for them at the risk of being retaken."

"Perhaps not," said the QB. "At least I can try. My hound nose is better than the one I was made with; but perhaps leopard's nose is all we need here—" They heard him sniff. "The whole encampment is asleep, except for those few tents still lit within. If we stay clear of such tents you may as well ride—and be ready to escape with speed if necessary. Your horses need only follow me. I will lead you to safety. Hob, can you tell Blanchard to follow me in the dark? I do not know this land, but I can still sense the trees and the spaces between them."

"Blanchard won't listen to me," said Hob, startling Jim by speaking from behind him on Gorp's back. "But I can tell Gorp my Lord said so to do, and then Gorp will listen and follow."

"And Blanchard shall follow Gorp. My word on it!" said Brian's voice out of the darkness.

"And you, my Lord Regent," came the QB's voice, "will your horse also follow?"

"No," answered Dafydd's voice, sounding as if he were smiling. "But I will listen to the hoof-falls of your horses, and guide mine along with the rest of you."

"Then we go," said the QB; and go they did. There were a few moments of movement, then the QB stopped again. "We are close now—to what I assumed must be."

They went forward again. After another small distance, he slowed and stopped again.

"You cannot see it yet," he said in a low voice. "For that matter, neither can I. But this is the tent holding Sir Hugh de Bois's extra gear. I have followed my nose to the tarred cover on the load your sumpter horse carried. Now that I am close I can smell your saddles as well, along with other equipage that may belong to Sir Hugh, or perhaps to a number of knights. There is one man on duty inside it, as night guard."

"I will take care of him," said Dafydd.

"No. There is no need. He has drunk himself to sleep. Let us go softly; and each of you keep a hand on my back. We will go in and carry out what is yours."

They did so. With the QB's nose to guide them through the blackness of the tents interior, it was a simple enough labor. They outfitted their horses, swung into their saddles, and were ready to ride.

Now that all the difficult work was over, the first paling of the morning sky announced that the night here, as short as that of Lyonesse, was all but over.

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.