Запретный лес
XIII. White Magic
IhavethekeysandcanleaveandenterthehouseasIchoose.WhentheduskcomesandourguestsintheHowlet’sNestarequietfromhoarseness,IwillbidJockDoddscarrycertainplenishingtoParadise."
Alittlebeforemidnight,wheneventheclamourofLuckyWeir’swasstill,threefiguresstolefromthemanse,afterDavidbymanyreconnaissanceshadassuredhimselfthatthecoastwasclear.Montrose’serstwhilecaptainwasdressedlikeasmallfarmer,inDavid’sbreechesandacoatthathadoncebelongedtoIsobel’sgoodman.Hehadarudecrutch,withwhichhemanagedtokeepupagoodpace,havinglearnttheart,hesaid,duringanescapefromapatrolofWallenstein’s,whichforgreatersecurityhadmanacledtheprisonersinpairslegtoleg.Isobelprospectedtheroadbeforehimlikeafaithfuldog,whileDavidsteadiedhimwithhisarm.InsuchfashiontheycrossedtheHillofDeer,andinadarknesslitonlybythestarscametothegladecalledParadise.Theretheyfoundawaitingthemaglimmeringgirl,atthesightofwhomIsobel’sfearsbrokeloose,forsheprayedinwordsnotsanctionedbyanyKirk,andherprayerwasformercyfromtheGoodFolk.
Kerrmadeanattemptatabow."MistressYester,itisnotthefirsttimeIhavecomeforsuccourtowomenofyourhouse.TheysayImusttaketotheshawslikeRobinHood,butthewildwoodwillbeapalaceifyouareamongitsvisitors."
"Yester,"Isobelmutteredtoherself."Theyoungleddyo’Calidon!Whawadhavethochtthattheministerwasacquaintthere?Certes,she’sthebonnyane,"andshebobbedcurtsies.
Katrinewasthegeneral.
