"Phyllis Eisenstein - Elementals 02 - The Crystal Palace" - читать интересную книгу автора (Eisenstein Phyllis)

тАЬYes, for it is just as alive as they are.тАЭ

тАЬAh, but look at the others,тАЭ said Gildrum. тАЬLook at all the blossoms around it.тАЭ

As the golden flower had opened, holding all their attention, the nearest gilt-edged blooms had closed,
and now, withered, they were dropping off the tree.

тАЬItтАЩs stolen all their life force,тАЭ said the demon.

Cray raised a hand to his forehead, then rubbed his eyes as if they were crusty from sleep. тАЬAnd some
of mine as well,тАЭ he murmured. тАЬThis new sorcery is wearing.тАЭ

His mother caught his arm. тАЬAre you all right? The flower is beautiful, but we need no golden flowers at
the cost of your health.тАЭ

тАЬNo, no,тАЭ he said. тАЬI just feel ... as if I had run too far.тАЭ He smiled tiredly. тАЬTo give dead metal life is no
light task.тАЭ

Sepwin was kneeling beneath the tree, a dozen with-ered blossoms in his hands. тАЬTo steal life in one
place and bestow it in anotherтАФis that not the ultimate desire of every sorcerer? To say what shall live
and what shall die?тАЭ

тАЬThat was hardly my purpose,тАЭ said Cray. He let his mother help him to the stone bench, and he sat
down heavily. Gildrum poured him a cup of wine.

тАЬSorcerers are no better than kings,тАЭ said Sepwin, letting the withered flowers fall, one by one, from his
fingers. тАЬNo better than the thousand petty princes I have seen in my years with the lady Helaine.
Eter-nally, they search for power.тАЭ He looked up at Cray. тАЬYou, too, my friend.тАЭ
 Cray drank his wine at a draft and then held the golden goblet up. тАЬI made this,тАЭ he said. тАЬAnd I wish to
make more beautiful things. What better use for sorcery? Better than enslaving thinking creatures; better
than making the mortal countryside cringe in fear at the mention of my name.тАЭ

Sepwin stood up slowly. тАЬI know what I see when I look at you, Cray. I know what I feel in your flesh.тАЭ
He came away from the tree and sat on the stone bench beside his friend. тАЬLook at me and tell me what
this golden flower means to you. Tell me you are not going the way of power for its own sake, the way of
Rezhyk.тАЭ

тАЬOh, Feldar,тАЭ Delivev whispered. тАЬHow can you make such a comparison? HeтАЩs harmed no one. The
power he seeks is not evil.тАЭ

тАЬI do not speak of evil. I speak of his heart and his future. The search for power is endless. It consumes
the seeker and never satisfies him.тАЭ

Cray met SepwinтАЩs mismatched eyes. тАЬLet it be so, then. At least it will fill up the hundred mortal lives of
my span. Or would you suggest I change to some other line of employment?тАЭ

SepwinтАЩs gaze was level, unblinking. тАЬI say only that you need the mirror, my friend. Others may use it,
but now I know we will be making it for you.тАЭ

Cray pursed his lips and looked to his tree, where the gold blossom glinted in the midday sun. тАЬIf youтАЩre