"Janrae Frank - Dark Brothers of the Light 02 - Bloood Heresy" - читать интересную книгу автора (Frank Janrae)

"But Father Levis--" Cyril protested, shaking his dark hair back.

"We must pack tonight." Father Levis's tone was firm.

For weeks, the priest, like many in the other temples had been warning the populace of the city-states to
flee, but few listened. The citizens' lives were bound up in their cities. Most thought the walls would
protect them; or their armies and their kings. It was unimaginable to them that anything could be worse
than what had happened during the Great War and they had weathered that--so they did not heed their
priests. Many children had come of age in the peaceful years after the war ended and, therefore, had no
sense of danger--the sense of immortality of the young bounded their existence.

"I should order you all away," Father Levis said. "My warnings fall on deaf ears."

"Don't be foolish," one of the younger priests said. "It cannot possibly be as bad as you've predicted.
Waejontor has fallen. No more dark realms exist."

"There can always be another one," Father Levis said, his voice going low and dark. "I fear that it is our
city that the dark ones have chosen for it."

****

Isranon thought about the rose garden, which was thick with fresh spring growth, delighted at having the
sheltering green at last. It had been difficult to find any privacy during the height of winter. Nevin and Olin
always found him when he took refuge beneath a pine or other evergreens. Now the tanglewoods that
were Anksha's haunts would become a veiling sanctuary. He had always had time to himself growing up,
the entire valley of the Claw's people had been his to roam with no one at his back or shoulder. The
constant supervision had been driving him crazy.

He dreamed of laying on his back alone in the grass, watching the languid clouds drifting by with no one
to interrupt his thought, no constant checking on him, or asking if he was all right. To achieve that he
would have to outwit and out run his mentor. Nevin would be on his trail the minute he vanished. It would
be fun to try outwitting Nevin. He had never managed to do that as a boy. To steal a few hours alone
would be a treat.

Nevin had gone down to see about some lunch and would be returning soon. He would, doubtless, be
using the kitchen stairs that most of the servants used. Therefore Isranon ran down to the main stairs
through the great hall and slowed only slightly as he crossed, so as not to draw people's attention. He
reached the gardens and sauntered into the rose gardens. He found a bower that was not in use and
climbed through it.

Once on the other side, Isranon darted into Anksha's thickets. He moved at a walk to deal with the
dense vegetation in various places, the tangles of trees and vines that Anksha loved to slither through.
Looking it over, it was no wonder she always had leaves and twigs in her hair.

The soft padding of feet alerted Isranon that he was close to being found, so he dashed through a thicket
to the fountain, slipped into the fountain and waded across it with such finesse that he made no noise:
Nevin had trained him well. Then he ran into a dense cluster of trees.

He found a tree that had fallen in the winter and rolled underneath it, where he remained for several
minutes. Nevin's legs stalked past him and disappeared. Isranon stifled a sound of triumph.