Заборонений ліс
X. What the Moon Saw
HehadlostthefirstfierceangerwhichhadstiffenedhimforhisfrustratedexpeditionontheeveofthesecondBeltane,andhistacitostracismallsummerbythefolkofWoodileehadengenderedaprofoundself-distrust.EventhethoughtofKatrineYesterdidnotnervehim;shebelongedtoaworldseparatedbyimpassablegulfsfromthatblacknecromancywhichhewarredagainst.Nordidthefactthathehadanallycomforthim,forReiverslaw,hegreatlyfeared,foughtinhisownstrengthandnotinthatoftheLord,andinsuchastrifethearmoffleshcouldnotavailthem.AshestumbledthroughthedarkundergrowthDavid’slipsmovedinanxiousprayers.
Heenteredthepines,and,shapinghiscoursebythelowlineofcliffs,cametotheplacewherehehadfirstmetKatrine.Thusfarhefeltthathewasnotwhollyoutsidethepaleofkindlythings.Butafterthathewasinenemycountry,andthemoonwasstilltoolowtogivehimhelp.Hewastedhalfanhourinthethickets,tillbyastrongeffortofwillheforcedhimselftotakehisbearingsandrememberReiverslaw’sinstructions.Hescrambleduphillagaintillhewasintouchwiththeoutcropofrock,andthensuddenlyfoundhimselflookingdownonthegladewherestoodthealtar.
Itwasverydark,andthestonewasonlyaghostlyblur.Butthedarknesswasablessing,fortheplacewasnotashehadseenitbefore,andthesightofitdidnotrevivetheterrorshehadfeared.Itlookednomorethanawoodlandglade,andthefactthatarabbitscurriedfromunderhisfeetseemedafriendlyomen.
