"Brooks - Heritage 2 -The Druid of Shannara" - читать интересную книгу автора (Brooks Terry)

something you must do."

Slowly, carefully he explained to her that she must leave the
Gardens and go out into the world of men. He told her where it
was that she must go and what it was that she must do. He talked
of the Dark Uncle, the Highlander, and the nameless other, of
the Shadowen, of Uhl Belk and Eldwist, and of the Black Elf-
stone. As he spoke to her, revealing the truth behind who and
what she was, he experienced an aching within his breast that
was decidedly human, part of himself that had been submerged
for many centuries. The ache brought a sadness that threatened
to cause his voice to break and his eyes to tear. He stopped once

6 The Druid of Shannara

in surprise to fight back against it. It required some effort to
resume speaking. The girl watched him without comment-
intense, introspective, expectant. She did not argue with what
he told her and she did not question it. She simply listened and

accepted.

When he was done, she stood up. "I understand what is

expected of me. I am ready."

But the King of the Silver River shook his head. "No, child,
you are not. You will discover that when you leave here. Despite
who you are and what you can do, you are vulnerable neverthe-
less to things against which I cannot protect you. Be careful then
to protect yourself. Be on guard against what you do not under-
stand."

"I will," she replied.

He walked with her to the edge of the Gardens, to where the
world of men began, and together they stared out at the en-
croaching ruin. They stood without speaking for a very long
time before she said, "I can tell that I am needed there."

He nodded bleakly, feeling the loss of her already though she
had not yet departed. She is only an elemental, he thought and
knew immediately that he was wrong. She was a great deal
more. As much as if he had given birth to her, she was a part

of him.

"Goodbye, Father," she said suddenly and left his side.

She walked out of the Gardens and disappeared into the world