"Raymond E. Feist - Riftwar 1 - Magician2" - читать интересную книгу автора (Feist Raymond E)

the magician was staring at him. Regaining his wits, he began to read.
"And then there came a sum . . . summons from . . ." He looked

at the word, stumbling over the complex combinations that were
new to
him. ". . . Zacara." He paused, looking at Kulgan to see if he was
correct. The magician nodded for him to continue. "For the north was to be
forgot . . . forgotten, lest the heart of the empire lan . . . lan-guish
and all be lost. And though of Bosania from birth, those soldiers still


file:///F|/rah/Raymond%20E.%20Feist/Riftwar%201%20-%20Magician.txt (10 of 462) [1/23/03 5:38:45 PM]
 file:///F|/rah/Raymond%20E.%20Feist/Riftwar%201%20-%20Magician.txt

were loyal to Great Kesh in their service. So for her great need, they
took up their arms and put on their armor and quit Bosania, taking ship
to the south, to save all from destruction."
Kulgan said, "That's enoughF" and gently closed the cover of the book. "You
are well gifted with letters for a keep boy." 'This book, sir, what is it?"
asked Pug, as Kulgan took it from him. "I have never seen anything like
it." Kulgan looked at Pug for a moment, with a gaze that made him
uncomfortable again, then smiled, breaking the tension. As he put the book
back, he said, "It is a history of this land, boy. It was given as a gift
by the abbot of an Ishapian monastery. It is a translation of a Keshian
text, over a hundred years old." Pug nodded and said, "It all sounded very
strange. what does it tell of?'' of. Kulgan once more looked at Pug as if
trying to see something inside of the boy, then said, "A long time ago,
Pug, all these lands, from the Endless Sea across the Grey Tower Mountains
to the Bitter Sea, were part of the Empire of Great Kesh. Far to the east
existed a small kingdom, on one small island called Rillanon. It grew to
engulf its neighboring island kingdoms, and it became the Kingdom of the
Isles. Later it expanded again to the mainland, and while it is still the
Kingdom of Isles, most of us simply call it 'the Kingdom.' We, who live in
Crydee, are part of the Kingdom, though we live as far from the capital
city of Rillanon as one can and still be within its boundaries. "Once, many
long years ago, the Empire of Great Kesh abandoned
these lands, for it was engaged in a long and bloody conflict with its
neighbors to the south, the Keshian Confederacy." Pug was caught up in the
grandeur of lost empires, but hungry
enough to notice Meecham was putting several small loaves of dark
bread in the hearth oven. He turned his attention back to the
magician.
"Who were the Keshian Con- . . . ?"
"The Keshian Confederacy," Kulgan finished for the boy.
"It is a group of small nations who had existed as
tributaries to Great Kesh for centuries. A dozen years before that book was
written, they united against their oppressor. Each alone was insufficient
to contest with Great Kesh, but united they proved its match. Too close a
match, for the war dragged on year after year. The Empire was forced to
strip its northern provinces of their legions and send them south, leaving