"Margaret Weis - Dragonlance Chronicles 01 - Dragons Of Autumn Twilight" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dragonlance)

clutched in a disembodied golden claw carved to resemble the talon of a dragon,
gleamed at the top.
"Was it worth it?" Tanis asked quietly.
Raistlin stared at him, then his lips parted in a caricature of a grin. He
withdrew his hand from Tanis's arm and folded his arms in the sleeves of his
robe. "Of course!" the mage hissed.
"Power is what I have long sought-and still seek." He leaned back and his thin
figure melted into the dark shadow until all Tanis could see were the golden
eyes, glittering in the firelight.
"Ale," said Flint, clearing his throat and licking his lips as if he would wash
a bad taste out of his mouth. "Where is that kender? I suppose he stole the
barmaid-"
"Here we are," cried Tas's cheerful voice. A tall, young, redhaired girl loomed
behind him, carrying a tray of mugs.
Caramon grinned. "Now, Tanis," he boomed, "guess who this is. You, too, Flint.
If you win, I'll buy this round."
Glad to take his mind off Raistlin's dark tale, Tanis stared at the laughing
girl. Red hair curled around her face, her green eyes danced with fun, freckles
were lightly smattered across her nose and cheeks. Tanis seemed to remember the
eyes, but beyond that he was blank.
"I give up," he said. "But then, to elves humans seem to change so rapidly that
we lose track. I am one hundred and two, yet seem no more than thirty to you.
And to me those hundred years seem as thirty. This young woman must have been a
child when we left."
"I was fourteen." The girl laughed and set the tray down on the table. "And
Caramon used to say I was so ugly my father would have to pay someone to marry
me."
"Tika!" Flint slammed his fist on the table. "You're buying, you great oaf!" He
pointed at Caramon.
"No fair!" The giant laughed. "She gave you a clue."
"Well, the years have proved him wrong," Tanis said, smiling. "I've traveled
many roads and you're one of the prettiest girls I've seen on Krynn."
Tika blushed with pleasure. Then her face darkened. "By the way, Tanis"-she
reached in her pocket and drew forth a cylindrical object-"this arrived for you
today. Under strange circumstances."
Tanis frowned and reached for the object. It was a small scrollcase made of
black, highly polished wood. He slowly removed a thin piece of parchment and
unrolled it. His heart thudded painfully at sight of the bold, black
handwriting.
"It's from Kitiara," he said finally, knowing his voice sounded strained and
unnatural. "She's not coming."
There was a moment's silence. "That's done it," Flint said. "The circle is
broken, the oath denied. Bad luck." He shook his head. "Bad luck."


3
Knight of Solamnia.
The old man's party.

Raistlin leaned forward. He and Caramon exchanged glances as thoughts passed