"Tom Deitz - David Sullivan 02 - Fireshaper's Doom" - читать интересную книгу автора (Deitz Tom)

the west, yet the smoke of human progress still seeps through at times to grime the Faery wind with soot
and the smells of death. Sometimes, too, the awkward, eager clatter of some man-made invention breaks
the Barrier Between to haunt the Fair Folk at their feasting. Finvarra smiles but seldom.

And there is ArawnтАЩs holding: Annwyn of the Tylwyth-Teg, which humankind name Cymru. If
Tir-Nan-Og is early morn, and Erenn afternoon, then Annwyn is twilight. By day the sun looks veiled and
dusty; at night lamps made by druidry shine brighter than the moon. Shadows tend toward purple there;
the sky ofttimes takes on the hue of blood. The wind is not always gentle. And the borders are not
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clearтАФfor in spots the very ground simply fades until it will support not even a spiderтАЩs passing. Many of
the Straight Tracks end in Annwyn, or else lead into places where even the Elemental Powers merge and
fragment endlessly like the dreaming of the damned.



p. 2тАЬWill you go with me to Annwyn?тАЭ Lugh asked Nuada Airgetlam one morning. тАЬIf we do not visit
ArawnтАЩs court ere the Mortal World unfreezes, we may find no chance again for many ages.тАЭ

NuadaтАЩs dark eyes narrowed with suspicion. тАЬAnd what has fueled this sudden haste, my master? What
difference cantheir weather make to us? The Walls Between the Worlds make cold no danger; and as
for the Road, no ship of man can pass there, whatever be the season.тАЭ

тАЬLeif the Lucky has beached his boats near the red menтАЩs northmost holding,тАЭ the High King told his
warlord. тАЬWinter may hold them yet awhile, but spring will bring them south and westward. Tir-Nan-Og
is safe at present, for my Power is great, and the glamour I have lately raised is strong. But I fear our time
of peace will reach an ending, once word of LeifтАЩs good fortune spans the ocean. Soon, I think, we must
set watch on our borders!тАЭ

Nuada sighed his regret. тАЬI too fear menтАЩs coming and the tools of iron that always travel with them. But
it is a thing that was bound to happen. You are right about Annwyn, though: if we would leave
Tir-Nan-Og unguarded, we must start the journey eastward very shortly.тАЭ

And so, on a day when snow sparkled bright on the Lands of Men, and Leif the Lucky sang of Vinland
and the kingdom he would carve, Lugh Samildinach and Nuada Airgetlam took the Golden Road across
the sea and came to ArawnтАЩs kingdom.

The Lord of the Dim Land received them well and feasted them for many days. Deep grew the bonds
among the three, and diverse were the pleasures the three lords sharedтАФin hunting and in trials of arms,
in the savoring of song and poetry and subtle arts of women, and most particularly in the study of
wondrous objects strangely fashioned.

тАЬThere is one thing left in Annwyn I would show you,тАЭ Arawn said one evening. тАЬBut I would not reveal
it here.тАЭ

тАЬAnd what might that thing be?тАЭ Lugh asked his host.