"W. Michael Gear - Forbidden Borders 2 - Relic of Empire" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gear W Michael)

Kaylla Dawn stopped as she entered the dome. Tall, lithe, and athletic, she possessed a poise and grace
that automatically drew attention. Through piercing tan eyes, she watched the old man and tension
thinned her wide mobile mouth. Straight brown hair hung to her shoulders. Like the old man, Kaylla wore
a simple white robe of coarsely spun fabric that contrasted with the desert-bronze burned into her skin.
In contrast to her patrician features, her hands appeared callused and cracked like those of a common
laborer.

тАЬMagister?тАЭ she asked in a husky contralto. тАЬAre you still here? I thought I ought to check on you before
retiring.тАЭ A pause. тАЬPerhaps it was good that I did. Come on. LetтАЩs get you something to eat and put you
to bed. тАЬ

His fingers continued to twist the fabric of his robe into spikes and then smooth them. His eyes remained
absently focused on the stars.

тАЬMagister Bruen? Did you hear me?тАЭ She took a step closer, tan gaze hardening.

The old man exhaled, the action weary and weak. тАЬIтАЩve been eating things for over three hundred years,
Kaylla-and IтАЩve slept through at least a hundred of those same years. ThatтАЩs enough for one lifetime. Go
on, girl. Leave me be. тАЬ

She went to stand beside him, placing a hand on his bony shoulder. тАЬMagister Bruen, you must keep
your strength up. With all the challenges we face, youтАЩve got to-тАЬ

тАЬBah!тАЭ he spat, and made a throwing away gesture with his shriveled hand. тАЬIтАЩve battled my dragons,
Kaylla ... and IтАЩve watched a lifetime of work broken into dusty rubble before my eyes. I only thank the
dancing quanta that Hyde didnтАЩt live to see this.тАЭ

тАЬItтАЩs not in ruins,тАЭ she reminded coolly. тАЬHumanity still has a chance. Things just didnтАЩt work out the way
you planned. A different way lies before us now.тАЭ

тАЬWith the Star Butcher?тАЭ He turned his head and lifted a white eyebrow; the action recast the wrinkles
on his face and forehead. His watery blue eyes challenged her for the briefest instant before dropping.
тАЬWho would have thought?тАЭ

тАЬNo one. But for now letтАЩs just worry about getting you fed and to bed. тАЬ

He shook his head. тАЬIтАЩm not sleepy-just fatigued with life, my dear. Go on. Get your own rest. The
Seddi are yours now. Your responsibility. Let me sit here.тАЭ -

тАЬMagister, I want you to come with me and-тАЬ тАЬGo!тАЭ he snapped, glaring up at her, the old fire returning
to his eyes. тАЬMy reality died with the Praetor on Myklene. This is your age, your phase of reality. Leave
me alone his voice dropped, тАЬwith my memories.тАЭ

She took a breath, as if to launch into him again, and then relented. тАЬAll right, Magister. But isnтАЩt there
something I can do to help? Maybe if I just sit here and listen?тАЭ

He shrugged hostilely, then, after a moment, pointed a gnarled finger at the stars. тАЬThere, you see them,
Kaylla? See how they shimmer? Look slightly blurry? WeтАЩre seeing those stars through the Forbidden
Borders. Gravity does that, bends the light and refracts it. тАЬ