Запретный лес

           "Whoareyoutoorderamanlikeme?"Thevoicewasstrong,butinitsshrillnesswasdisquiet.

           "Idonotorderyou.Lookinyourheartandyouwillfindthecompulsion.Itwasnotfornothing,EphrairnCaird,thatweforgatheredthisnight.TheLordordainedit,andinyourmarrowyouknowthatyoucannotleaveme.Thisnightweareinacloserbondthanmanandwife."

           "Havers!"Itwasthelastspasmofbluster,andthevoicewasweakerthantheword."I’lldonoman’sbidding.Tak’yourhandfrommybridle."

           Thehandwasraised,andtheothercoweredtohissaddle-bow,asiftoavertastroke.Butthehanddidnotfall.Insteaditgrippedhisarm,andthegripseemedtocrushhisbones.

           "Youfool,"saidthegravevoice."ThisnightIhavethestrengthoftenmen,fortheLordisinme.IcouldstrikeyoudeadifIwereminded,butthecommandisonmethatweridetogether."

           Chasehope’sarrogancehaddrainedoutofhim,butithadleftsomedregsofcourage.Hestruggledtocomposehisvoiceandrecoverhiseverydaydemeanour.

           "Weel,sinceye’resopressin’I’lldoyourwill.There’snohalfamiledifferintheroads."Butthewordsdidnothingtobreakthespellwhichchokedhim.Theywerelikethewry-mouthedbravadoofacriminalatthegallows’foot.

           NowordwasspokenastheycrossedthehaughandskirtedtheFennanMoss,buthadtherebeenanyonetoseehewouldhavenotedthatDavidrodeerectlikeatrooper,whileChasehopehunglikeasackinhissaddle,andthatDavid’skneewashardpressedagainsttheother’s,asifthetwowereshackled.