"Dave Duncan - A Handful Of Men 2 - Upland Outlaws" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

The dwarf snorted. "Everything! I told you-the greater his power, the more fearful he is! He knew he'd become a threat to the Four, so he feared the
Four, because they were the only power that could threaten him. That's how he thinks."


"That was why you came to the Rotunda today?"


Thunder rumbled in the ambience. "Of course it was! Why are you so stupid? We expected him to strike when we answered your summons at the
enthronement, so he could swat all four of us at the same time. Probably he'd have blasted us as he blasted Ag-an, years ago. Grunth and I got the
jump on him. We made you imperor, sonny, but it isn't going to do you any good. "


Shandie frowned. "And why destroy the thrones? Zinixo did that?"


"No! I did!"


"The four thrones were occult," Rap said. This conversation was a stupid waste of time! Nevertheless, the imperor had a right to know, and Rap
himself had no idea what was going to happen next. If Zinixo's Covin had already infested the city, then the situation was as close to hopeless as he
could imagine. "They were portals into the wardens' palaces. He could have forced entry through them."


"I thought you didn't know all this?" the imperor said.


"I didn't, earlier. Partly I'm working it out as I go along, from what Raspnex told me as he came in-you weren't privy to that conversation, is all. He
hasn't used sorcery on me yet, although he could. And you'll have to take our word on that. You can't trust anyone now, your Majesty. Once
Zinixo's votaries pin a man down, he's theirs. As Raspnex says, Legate Ugoatho would be a logical first choice. He'll serve Zinixo from now on, to
the death. They all will."


"To what purpose?" Shandie demanded grimly.


Rap shrugged. "He's mad, he sees danger everywhere. The imperor is powerful, so he must be loyal to Zinixo-everyone must, who has any sort of
power at all. He'd make everyone in the world love him, if he could. "


"Where are the Four?"


Rap looked to Raspnex. "Good question!"


"Gone," the dwarf said. "Most of their votaries have been stolen from them. Lith'rian panicked first and fled to IIrane. Olybino was next. He's just
vanished. Can you imagine what Zinixo will do to those two when he gets his hands on them? No, you can't possibly imagine. Even I can't. But it
will be long and nasty-that I do know. " He pulled a face. "And I'm not on his friendship list either. "