companion [kəmˈpænjən], preferable [ˈprefərəbl], hair [hɛə]
The men lurking on the edges of the road evidently sensed the fate of their companion, and decided that an open charge was preferable to being dragged down in the dark by a devil-beast they could neither see nor hear. Perhaps they realized that only one man lay behind the logs. They came with a sudden rush, breaking cover from both sides of the trail. Three dropped with arrows through them — and the remaining pair hesitated. One turned and ran back down the road, but the other lunged over the breastwork, his eyes and teeth gleaming in the dim light, his ax lifted. Balthus' foot slipped as he sprang up, but the slip saved his life. The descending ax shaved a lock of hair from his head, and the Pict rolled down the logs from the force of his wasted blow. Before he could regain his feet Slasher tore his throat out.
Then followed a tense period of waiting (затем последовал напряженный период ожидания), in which time Balthus wondered if the man who had fled had been the only survivor of the party (во время которого Балтус спрашивал себя, был ли человек, который убежал, единственным уцелевшим из отряда). Obviously it had been a small band that had either left the fighting at the fort, or was scouting ahead of the main body (очевидно, это был небольшой отряд, который либо покинул бой у форта, либо вел разведку перед главными силами). Each moment that passed increased the chances for safety of the women and children hurrying toward Velithum (каждый момент, который проходил, увеличивал шансы на безопасность =
wonder [ˈwʌndə], obviously [ˈɔbvɪəslɪ], safety [ˈseɪftɪ]
Then followed a tense period of waiting, in which time Balthus wondered if the man who had fled had been the only survivor of the party. Obviously it had been a small band that had either left the fighting at the fort, or was scouting ahead of the main body. Each moment that passed increased the chances for safety of the women and children hurrying toward Velithum.
Then without warning a shower of arrows whistled over his retreat (затем без предупреждения град стрел просвистел над его убежищем). A wild howling rose from the woods along the trail (дикий вой поднялся из леса вдоль тропы). Either the survivor had gone after aid, or another party had joined the first (либо уцелевший ходил за помощью, либо еще один отряд присоединился к первому). The burning cabin still smoldered, lending a little light (горящая хижина еще тлела, давая немного света). Then they were after him, gliding through the trees beside the trail (потом они пошли за ним, скользя между деревьев возле тропы). He shot three arrows and threw the bow away (он выпустил три стрелы и отбросил лук;