"Eisenstein,.Phyllis.-.Elementals.2.-.1988.-.Crystal.Palace" - читать интересную книгу автора (Eisenstein Phyllis)

gestures, everything precisely as Regneniel had taught him. Yet the procedure
had yielded nothing.
Rage grew thick and hot within him. He snapped his fingers to bring a dazzling
blue-white spark into being on the nearest wall and, by its glare, stalked down
the tower stairs. In the courtyard, he picked up the copper-gold armlet and
turned it slowly in his hands. It had not changed; its inner surface was blank
where he desired a demonТs name to be inscribed. He gripped it hard, and its
edges pressed painfully into the flesh of his palm, his fingers. For a moment,
he focused all his rage on that piece of metal; he wanted to slam it against a
wall, to trample it under his feet, to hurl it into the furnace and melt it down
to a formless lump, as if any of those actions could somehow force it to obey
him and produce a demon. He gripped the circlet so hard that his hands shook. At
last, very softly, he said, УRegneniel, come here.Ф
The creature that answered his summons was taller than a man and grotesquely
storklike. It walked on two spindly, multi jointed legs, and its apple-sized
body sprouted three tiny arms as well as a snaky neck that blended into a
long-beaked head. It had no eyes or ears, no feathers or fur or scales, just a
smooth unbroнken skin as polished and gleaming as milk glass. Sinkнing to the
ground at EverandТs feet, it said, УMy lord, what is your will?Ф
Everand tore his left hand from the armlet and raised it as a fist. The third
finger bore a silver band set with a large, faceted diamond, and that gem caught
the glare of the blue-white spark and shattered it into a thousand colors.
Playing across the unearthly creatureТs skin, these fragments of light shivered
with the tremor of the hand.
УBy this ring I command you, Ice demon,Ф said Everand, and now his voice, too,
shook with his anнger, though it was very low. УHave you lied to me, my slave?
Have you given me false instruction in any particular?Ф
The beak tilted upward, as if the eyeless head were watching him. The voice was
human as his own, but level and emotionless. УMy lord, I have done everything
you required.Ф
УThink before you speak again, creature! Think of the prison I could send you
to, of the dark solitude that would close you in for the rest of your slavery.
Think of that, and tell me again if you have obeyed me to the letter!Ф
УMy lord,Ф said the demon, Уyour conjuration was correct in every detail. I
swear this on the ring that binds me to you.Ф
УThen where is my Fire demon?Ф He raised the armlet as if to strike his slave.
As so often before, though Regneniel bent low to the ground, Everand saw
defiance in that posture rather than submission. The demon despised him, he knew
it. УSpeak!Ф
УMy lord,Ф said Regneniel, Уthere are none to be had.Ф
УWhat? What do you mean?Ф
УNo more than that, my lord. At this moment, there are no Fire demons obliged to
answer your summons.Ф
УWhatЧevery one claimed by some other sorcerer? Am I to believe that?Ф
УMany are indeed claimed,Ф said Regneniel.
УAnd the unclaimed?Ф
УThey are all beyond your reach.Ф
He did strike the creature then, anger overpowering him, and the copper-gold
armlet rang against that glassy surface as against bare metal. УWhy are they
beyond my reach?Ф he shouted. УIs it you, you cursed monster? DonТt you know how