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

pommel.

Kith-Kanan listened for a moment to the stillness of the valley. The mist was

vanishing, burned off by the rising sun. A flock of swifts darted and wheeled overhead.

Somewhere in the distance, a dove made its mournful call.

"We have come here today," he began, "to erect a fortress. Not a stronghold for war,

for we have too long followed that path. This fortress, which we of Qualinesti and our

friends of Thorbardin shall build and occupy together, shall be a place of peace, a place

where people of all races can seek haven and find protection and rest."

The Speaker paused as the first direct rays of the sun lanced over the mountain peaks

into the valley. He was facing east, and the sunbeams warmed his face. A surge of

resolution, of the rightness of what they were beginning here today, passed through

Kith-Kanan.

"This boulder will be the cornerstone of Pax Tharkas, the Citadel of Peace. King

Glenforth and I will carve it out ourselves, as a symbol of the cooperation and friendship

between our countries."

He turned to the rock and set the great hammer Sunderer on his shoulder. Glenforth

butted the chisel against the rock and steadied it with both of his thick, powerful hands.

"Swing true, Speaker," he said, half-jesting.


Kith-Kanan raised the hammer. Ulvian and Verhanna, standing with the Qualinesti

nobles, stepped forward to get a better view of their father's work.

Sunderer came down on the chisel. A torrent of sparks fell across the boulder,

spraying the dwarf king with fire. Glenforth laughed and urged Kith-Kanan to strike

again. The third blow Kith-Kanan delivered was a mighty stroke indeed. It echoed

through the valley like a roll of thunder and was quickly followed by the dry crack of