[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

and vulnerable throat of the helpless Aine.
THE SILVER HAND
213
XXVI
BACK TO SAFETY
THE BOLT WAS only a spear-length from its mark when a gleaming hand
rose in its path. The bolt struck it with a sharp clink, glancing off
its smooth, rounded edge and driving harmlessly into the earthen floor.
Nuada stood now before the girl, the silver hand upraised, a look of
blazing hatred bringing the worn old face to life.
Startled, Bres glanced around him to discover what had happened. All
the Fomor guards had rushed to engage the three attackers, Streng
moving to help those struggling with Gilla. Bres was left to face his
prisoners alone.
Nuada went to AJne and seized her ropes with his metal hand to tear
them loose. Bres cocked the bow with a savage move and slammed another
bolt into the notch, planning to shoot him down.
This time it was Lugh's turn to act. He took three long steps and
launched himself at Bres, hitting him in the middle as he tried to
bring the weapon up. It was knocked from his hands and spun away as the
two sprawled onto the floor.
They rolled apart. Lugh came up, meaning to pounce again, but a well-
placed foot in the chest from Bres sent him backward.
The High-King sprang up, drawing his sword, his gaze focusing on Lugh
with a grim determination.
"Boy, I don't care who you are. You are going to die right now!"
The Dagda, battling with Angus against a score of Fomor saw the plight
of his unarmed friends. There was no time to reach them. Instead he
a
a
T
T
n
n
s
s
F
F
f
f
o
o
D
D
r
r
P
P
m
m
Y
Y
e
e
Y
Y
r
r
B
B
2
2
.
.
B
B
A
A
Click here to buy
Click here to buy
w
w
m
m
w
w
o
o
w
w
c
c
.
.
.
.
A
A
Y
Y
B
B
Y
Y
B
B
r r
swung back one arm and launched a sword in a long, high arc toward the
old High-King.
"Nuada! A sword!" he cried.
Nuada saw it, raised his silver hand and caught the weapon in midair.
As the hand closed around its hilt, he was trans-
formed. As if the weapon had some magical power of its own, all trace
of weariness and age fell away. He was once more the champion of old.
Ana, as Bres advanced on the defenseless Lugh, Nuada stepped forward,
bringing his weapon down to knock away the High-King's first swing.
Surprised by this intervention, Bres looked to him.
"Now, Bres," Nuada said, his voice vibrant with a new energy, "now try
me."
"Why, you old fool," Bres grated. "You made a mistake coming to life.
You'll die here with the rest."
He pushed impatiently forward, as if he could simply brush the older
man away to get to Lugh. But the sword of Nuada moved to block him.
Bres drove in again and again. Each time Nuada was there, his weapon
parrying with speed and power.
Bres now began measuring his opponent's skill with greater respect. He
couldn't believe that this sodden hulk of a man could be so suddenly
dangerous. Frustrated, the High-King began a more heated attack.
Nuada's years of inactivity and drink began to tell. The older man was
growing weary. His veteran's skill and aroused courage kept him stoutly
fending Bres off, but he was having increasing difficulty.
The young man looked desperately about. The others were putting up a
splendid fight, but they were heavily outnumbered. And it was only a
matter of time before the battle attracted more warriors. This rescue
attempt, valiant as it was, seemed doomed to failure.
"Hold, Bres!" Aine's voice commanded sharply, cutting through the noise
of combat.
The High-King glanced aside at her, then froze. In the confusion, she
had been forgotten. Now she stood not far from him, pointing the loaded
bow at him very purposefully.
"You gave me an opportunity to observe the use of this very closely,"
she said with heavy irony. "I'm quite sure I can fire it. Now, drop
your sword!"
He hesitated, his eyes darting around at the other warriors.
"Now, Bres!" she ordered coldly. "Or you're going to find your backbone
cut in two!"
a
a
T
T
n
n
s
s
F
F
f
f
o
o
D
D
r
r
P
P
m
m
Y
Y
e
e
Y
Y
r
r
B
B
2
2
.
.
B
B
A
A
Click here to buy
Click here to buy
w
w
m
m
w
w
o
o
w
w
c
c
.
.
.
.
A
A
Y
Y
B
B
Y
Y
B
B
r r
He believed her. "All right!" he said quickly and let his weapon drop.
"Now order the Fomor to stop the fight," she said.
214
THE RIDERS OF THE SIDHE
THE SILVER HAND
215
He raised his voice and called to the others, "All of you, cease
fighting! Cease fighting!"
The clatter of the weapons died. The Fomor looked around toward Bres
with curiosity. So did Lugh's comrades, surprised by this sudden
surrender.
"And now what?" Bres inquired.
"I'd like to finish you, Bres," Nuada said, raising his sword
threateningly. "After all these years..."
"Kill me, and none of you will leave this fortress alive," Bres
promised in hard tones.
"He's right, Nuada," Lugh said urgently. "Killing Bres won't free your
people. It will only see us killed and their last hope gone. Leave him.
We'll return. I promise you."
The old king considered this as he glared at Bres. But then he nodded.
"You're right. Let's be away from here."
"Good!" said Aine. "Now, Bres, I think this nasty device of yours will
insure that we can at least leave the hall in safety. Move very, very
slowly over to the dais and face me." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

  • zanotowane.pl
  • doc.pisz.pl
  • pdf.pisz.pl
  • moje-waterloo.xlx.pl

    •