"Elizabeth Haydon - Symphony of Ages - Threshold" - читать интересную книгу автора (Haydon Elizabeth)

cautionary hand to Jarmon.

тАЬThen stop wasting what time you have left here,тАЭ the Despot said, his tone flattening. тАЬDo you not know
the origins of this place? What is there here worth saving?тАЭ

Before answering, Hector sized him up. He had always been told that the city beyond the gates was full
of tricks, but the scrawny man before him had no weapons he could detect, and he saw no open doors
or windows that might conceal bowmen. He could not be certain that AnaisтАЩs position was clear a block
or so down.

тАЬThem,тАЭ he said simply, gesturing into the dark streets and alleyways. тАЬAnyone who did not have the
chance to choose life; anyone who was condemned as an afterthought. One man. One woman. One
child. Any and all that want to leave, whatever their crimes, whatever their innocence. In the name of
Gwylliam, the king, I am here to offer them that chance. Now, move aside! We have no time for this! We
stand on the threshold of death.тАЭ

The eyes of the Despot darkened as well, revealing a soulless depth.

тАЬBy all means, step over, then,тАЭ he said icily. тАЬItтАЩs rude to hover in doorways.тАЭ

тАЬAfter you, Your Majesty,тАЭ Hector replied.

He dropped his hand.

Three bolts were unleashed simultaneously, piercing the ragged man in the eye, heart, and forehead,
tearing through him as if he were parchment. The Despot fell back onto the broken cobblestones of the
square with a thud, sending another bevy of pigeons skyward. The noise of his fall and their rise echoed
through the empty streets, followed by a deafening silence.

тАЬAnais, ring the bell thrice more,тАЭ Hector called over his shoulder.

The metallic crashing resumed, then ceased, dying away slowly.

тАЬNow, come!тАЭ Hector shouted into the Outer Ring. тАЬCome with us if you want to live!тАЭ

For a long moment nothing answered him. Then, at the outer edges of his sight in the dark alleyways,
Hector saw the shadows thicken a bit, then move.

Slowly, one and two at a time, figures began to move into the light of the square, like ghosts in the haze of
the sun, squinting as if in pain. Thin men, emaciated women, and a few tattered children came forward,
hovering close to one another, their eyes hollow and downcast. Hector loosed his breath; until this
moment, he could not have been certain that there was anyone in the dark city left to save.

тАЬSevirym,тАЭ he said to the young soldier, тАЬlead these people to the pier and get them aboard the ship.
Send Anais back when you pass through the gate; we will go quickly house to house, and into the Inner
Ring.тАЭ

Sevirym nodded curtly at the mention of the dark interior of the Gated City, then turned and gestured
excitedly to the two dozen or so human shadows wandering slowly toward the gates.
тАЬCome,тАЭ he shouted. тАЬFollow me to the shipтАФand to a chance at living another day.тАЭ