"Furey,.Maggie.-.Artifacts.of.Power.4.-.Dhiammara" - читать интересную книгу автора (Furey Maggie)

Hellorin clambered painfully to his feet. The rebels broke into cheers and hoots of derision, but
there was a deathly silence from the Phaerie who landed close to their ruler. The Lord of the
Phaerie, backed by a menacing phalanx of his followers, faced the Earth-Mage through her
translucent shield of energy.
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The Forest Lord was the first to break the silence. His tones, at first, were conciliatory,
belying the glint of anger in his eyes. "Lady, you are an Immortal, like myself. You dwelt in my
realm for some time, and I almost began to think of you as one of the Phaerie. Surely you cannot
be siding with the Mortals against me?" He shrugged. "No, it is impossible. Are you angered
because I rode off and forgot you? Now that the Phaerie are free, do you wish to strike a bargain
or obtain some favor from me, that you use these pathetic creatures as bait?"
"I want nothing from you but your absence." Eilin spoke through gritted teeth.
Hellorin seemed taken aback. "Is this how you repay me, Lady, for the healing and sanctuary you
received in my realm, and for the kindness that was shown you by my people?" Now he no longer
troubled to hide his anger.
"I have not forgotten that I was succoured and sheltered by the PhaerieЧbut the contrast between
your compassionate behavior then and your brutal activities now is more than I will tolerate."
Eilin clenched her hands round the hilt of Hargom's sword, to still their trembling. "This is my
Valley." Her words rang out in challenge like the clash of steel on steel. "We are in my realm
now, and these Mortals are here under my protection. How dare you attack them?"
The Forest Lord's face turned dark with anger. "Do not cross me Mage, I warn you," he snarled. In
his wrath his form expanded, growing larger and larger until it towered over the Mage, higher than
the treetops, blotting out the stars.
Eilin forced herself to face him without flinching. "Will you really try to match your powers with
mine?" she demanded. "I think not. On your own ground, you could probably defeat meЧbut here? You
are new in the mundane worldЧyou have not had time to become accustomed to the workings of the
magic here. Over many years, my power has created this place. The very bones of the earth will
reach out to protect me] Perhaps you could prevailЧbut at what cost, to one so newly free? Is it
worth the risk, for a handful of Mortals?"
"Curse you, Lady. Your kind were ever false and faithless," Hellorin hissed.
"As yours are pitiless and perfidious," Eilin shot back with equal venom.

Hellorin shrugged. "And your people, of course, have prac-
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ticed only kindness and consideration toward your Mortal brethren down all the ages? Come,
EilinЧsurely this is a jest at my expense. What interest can you have in such lowly creatures as
these? Since when did the Magefolk care about Mortals, save where they might be used as servitors
or to further some scheme of conquest?"
The Earth-Mage tilted her head and looked him in the eyes. "Since one of those lowly creatures
became the father of my daughter's child. And since you have earned my undying contempt by using
and betraying AurianЧnot to mention the XandimЧin pursuit of your own ends."
The Phaerie Lord gave a booming laugh. "The Xandim are our property. And as for Aurian . . .
surely you did not expect us to swear fealty to a failure and a weaklingЧto bend our knees to one
of the hated race that put us out of the worldЧ when we had an opportunity to slip the Magefolk
leash for good? You must think a great deal of your daughter, Lady, if you consider that she is
worth the freedom of an entire race."
Eilin, inwardly raging, struck her sword against the ground in a thunderclap detonation of power.
"I think a great deal more of my daughter, evidently, than you think of your son," she cried in a
clear, cold voice.