"David Gemmell - Knights Of Dark Renown" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gemmel David)

тАШYes, sir - as is the law. And he signed the register. I have it here.тАЩ He lifted the leather-
bound book and showed it to the Knight.
Manannan caught up with Ollathair the following afternoon on a long open stretch of
road. The Armourer was riding a fat pony.
тАШIs there no peace?тАЩ Ollathair asked. тАШWhat is the problem?тАЩ
тАШThere is no problem that I know of,тАЩ Manannan told him. тАШThis is a chance meeting. I
saw your handiwork at the inn; a little extravagant for a nightтАЩs lodging, was it not?тАЩ
тАШItтАЩs flawed; it will not last out the week. Now ride on and leave me to a little serenity. I
will see you at the Citadel in a week.тАЩ
Now as Manannan looked about him at the cobwebs and the decay, he shivered.
Perhaps Ollathair would have chosen another name. Perhaps he was dead.
But with no other clues the Once-Knight had no choice. He would ride to the north and
seek news of a craftsman called Ruad Ro-fhessa.
The boy gripped the tweezers, lifted the tiny bronze sliver and took a deep breath. He
licked his lips as he leaned over the bench, his hand shaking.
тАШEasy, now,тАЩ said the ugly man, sitting beside him. тАШBe calm and breathe easily. You are
too tense.тАЩ The boy nodded and rolled his shoulders, seeking to ease the knots of tension.
His hand steadied and the bronze sliver slid into place at the back of the model. тАШThere!тАЩ
said the man triumphantly, his one good eye examining the metal hawk. тАШNow take the
wing and lift it - carefully now!тАЩ
The boy did so and the wing spread effortlessly, the bronze feathers gleaming. тАШAnd
release.тАЩ The wing snapped back into place against the scaled body.
тАШI did it, Ruad. I made it!тАЩ cried the boy, clapping his hands.
тАШIndeed you did,тАЩ the man agreed, a wide grin showing his crooked teeth. тАШIn only a year
you have duplicated that which took me three, when I was your age. But then you had a
better teacher than I!тАЩ
тАШWill it fly?тАЩ asked the boy. Ruad Ro-fhessa ruffled the ladтАЩs tightly curled blond hair. He
shrugged his huge shoulders and stood, stretching his back.
тАШThat will depend on your ability to draw the air-magic. Come, we will sit for a while.тАЩ
Ruad moved away from the bench and through the workshop to a wide room where two
deep chairs were set before a hearth in which a log-fire blazed. There he settled himself,
stretching his short legs towards the blaze and resting his massive arms across his chest.
The firelight gleamed on the bronze patch covering his left eye and highlighted the silver
streaks in his thinning black hair. The boy joined him; he was tall for his age, and had
almost outgrown the tunic of his House.
тАШYou did well, Lug,тАЩ said Ruad. тАШOne day you will be a Master Craftsman. I am greatly
pleased with you.тАЩ Lug blushed and looked away. Compliments were rare from Ruad, and
never before had he been asked to sit by the fire.
тАШWill she fly?тАЩ
тАШCan you feel the magic in the air?тАЩ countered Ruad.
тАШNo.тАЩ
тАШClose your eyes and rest your head back against the chair.тАЩ Ruad lifted a heavy poker
and stirred the blaze to life, adding three fresh logs to the fire. тАШThe currents of magic are
many, the colours deep and sometimes startling. You must begin with the colours. Think
of White, which is peace. Harmony. Picture the colour, flow with it. Can you see it?тАЩ
тАШYes,тАЩ whispered Lug.
тАШWhen there is anger, or hatred, or pain, other than that of the flesh, White is the answer.
Summon it. Blue is the sky, the power of the air, the dream of things which fly. Blue is
what calls them on halting wings. Can you see the Blue?тАЩ
тАШI can, Master.тАЩ