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

to conjure them?Ф He struck again, harder, and this time he felt the armlet go
cold and the cold rush up his arm as if he had plunged it into icy water to the
shoulder. The sensaнtion merely fueled his rage, turning from ice to fire inside
his heart. УI am a sorcerer, and I will be a greater one! You shall not stand in
my way!Ф
УMy lord, I am not to blame,Ф whispered the demon.
УAre you saying that itТs my fault? Do you dare to say that, slave?Ф
УMy lordЧФ
УMonster, bewareЧyou walk close to the brink!Ф
The beak sank to the ground, almost touching his feet. УMy lord, you
misunderstand me. Forces outside the two of us prevent your conjuration from
being successful.Ф
Everand glowered at the creature, the pressure of his rage a beating pain in his
throat, at his temples, inside his ears. The demonТs voice was so calm, so quiet
that he wanted to smash it into a million milky shards. Cursing, he turned away,
and then he tossed the copper-gold circlet from him as if it were a piece of
rotten meat.
Slowly, he regained control of himself. Losing his temper at the demon was
pointless, he knew that. He could not punish itЧhe needed its services too much.
He had no other slaves. He hugged his icy arm to his chest and massaged away the
chill. When he turned back to the demon at last, he was the image of cool
restraint, though his throat was hot and raw.
УWhat forces do you speak of, my slave?Ф he said quietly.
RegnenielТs beak barely moved with its words. УThere is a sorcerer, my lord, who
gives eternal freedom to masterless demons. He has been doing this for some
years now, and as long as he continues, there will be no reservoir of potential
slaves.Ф
Everand stroked his pale beard with the hand that bore the diamond. УNone at
all? Fire, Ice, Water, and AirЧnone?Ф
УNone, my lord.Ф
УAnd Regneniel, my slave, did you know this before you began to teach me how to
conjure them?Ф
The demon hesitated for just a moment. Then it whispered, УYes, my lord.Ф
УSo, all the while you were teaching me this useless knowledge, you were mocking
me behind my back.Ф
УMy lord, you bade me teach you how to conjure a Fire demon, and I obeyed.Ф
Everand drew a ragged breath and kept his voice from rising into a shout again.
УYes, you did obey me. And you taught me more than you think, my icy slave. I
promise you, this lesson shall not be forgotten. NowЧtell me if there is any way
I can acquire a Fire demon, or any sort of demon, in the future.Ф
УIt will not be easy, my lord.Ф
УSo I suspect. Still.Ф
Regneniel arched its neck, swanlike, raising its head to the level of EverandТs
knees. УThis sorcerer knows when demons are loosed by their masterТs deaths, and
also when new ones are born. He is always ready, it seems, with rings to conjure
them and set them free. You could not be quick enough to snatch them from him,
my lord, not even with my help. Therefore, if you wish another slave, you must
prevent him from practicing his art.Ф
Everand stared down at. the beak that poised, moнtionless, before him. УPrevent?
You mean ... kill him?Ф