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

He did strike the creature then, anger overpowering him, and the copper-gold armlet rang against that
glassy surface as against bare metal. тАЬWhy are they beyond my reach?тАЭ he shouted. тАЬIs it you, you
cursed monster? DonтАЩt you know how to conjure them?тАЭ 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
sensa-tion merely fueled his rage, turning from ice to fire inside his heart. тАЬI am a sorcerer, and I will be a
greater one! You shall not stand in my way!тАЭ

тАЬMy lord, I am not to blame,тАЭ whispered the demon.

тАЬAre you saying that itтАЩsmy fault? Do you dare to say that, slave?тАЭ

тАЬMy lordтАФтАЭ

тАЬMonster, bewareтАФyou walk close to the brink!тАЭ

The beak sank to the ground, almost touching his feet. тАЬMy lord, you misunderstand me. Forces outside
the two of us prevent your conjuration from being successful.тАЭ

Everand glowered at the creature, the pressure of his rage a beating pain in his throat, at his temples,
inside his ears. The demonтАЩs 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 itтАФhe 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.

тАЬWhat forces do you speak of, my slave?тАЭ he said quietly.
 RegnenielтАЩs beak barely moved with its words. тАЬThere 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.тАЭ

Everand stroked his pale beard with the hand that bore the diamond. тАЬNone at all? Fire, Ice, Water, and
AirтАФnone?тАЭ

тАЬNone, my lord.тАЭ

тАЬAnd Regneniel, my slave, did you know this before you began to teach me how to conjure them?тАЭ

The demon hesitated for just a moment. Then it whispered, тАЬYes, my lord.тАЭ

тАЬSo, all the while you were teaching me this useless knowledge, you were mocking me behind my back.тАЭ

тАЬMy lord, you bade me teach you how to conjure a Fire demon, and I obeyed.тАЭ

Everand drew a ragged breath and kept his voice from rising into a shout again. тАЬYes, you did obey me.
And you taught me more than you think, my icy slave. I promise you, this lesson shall not be forgotten.
NowтАФtell me if there is any way I can acquire a Fire demon, or any sort of demon, in the future.тАЭ