"03 - The Qualinesti - Paul B Thompson & Tonya R Cater" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dragonlance - Elven Nations (3))

His duty done, Ulvian stepped back and hovered just behind his father.

With a fond pat on Verhanna's cheek, Kith-Kanan sent his children back to the ranks

of nobles. Turning once more to the dwarf, he said softly, "Excuse my son. He hasn't

been the same since his mother died. My daughter never really knew her mother; it's been

easier for her."

Glenforth nodded politely. Practically everyone from Hylo to Silvanost knew the tale

of Kith-Kanan and his human wife, Suzine. She had died many years before, in one of the

last battles of the Kinslayer War. Her children matured at a much slower rate than human

children, but not as slowly as full-blooded elven offspring. In human terms, both were

still quite young.

The two monarchs exchanged more polite trivialities before returning to the reason

for their meeting this morning. At a sign from Glenforth, an elderly dwarf came forward

carrying an object covered by a red velvet cloth. It was obviously very heavy, and he held

it firmly in both hands. Glenforth took the parcel, holding it easily. The elderly dwarf

bowed to his king and was introduced as Chancellor Gendrin Dunbarth, senior thane of

the Hylar clan.

"My lord," Kith-Kanan said, scrutinizing the chancellor, "I once knew a wise dwarf

called Dunbarth of Dunbarth. Are you by chance related to him?"


Gendrin mopped his brow with a coarse-looking handkerchief. "Yes, Highness.

Dunbarth of Dunbarth, ambassador to the court of Silvanesti, was my father," replied the

dwarf, puffing from exertion.

Kith-Kanan smiled. "I met him in Silvanost many years ago and remember him with

esteem. He was an honorable fellow."

Glenforth cleared his throat. Kith-Kanan returned his attention to the king. In loud,