"Paul S. Kemp - Erevis Cale 3 - Midnight's Mask" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kemp Paul S)

тАЬI am well, Dolgan,тАЭ he said, and eyed Riven. тАЬYou were
a companion of the priest of Mask?тАЭ
Riven nodded tightly. The mention of Cale as a priest
irritated him.
тАЬYou betrayed your friend to join my sons?тАЭ
тАЬI donтАЩt have friends,тАЭ Riven answered, and kept his

20 тАв Paul S. Kemp
voice steady. тАЬI have allies and enemies. Allies I use.
Enemies I kill.тАЭ
The Sojourner smiled, a barely perceptible rise in the
corners of his mouth. тАЬWhich are we, then?тАЭ
Behind Riven, Dolgan chortled. The big slaad shifted
on his feet.
тАЬAllies,тАЭ Riven said, but could not prevent himself from
adding over his shoulder, тАЬFor now.тАЭ
Dolgan growled, moved a step closer.
Riven tensed, readied himself. Azriim dispelled the
tension. тАЬYou see?тАЭ the foppish slaad said, grinning and
thumping Riven on the shoulder. тАЬI like him. So does
Dolgan.тАЭ
Dolgan scoffed and spat on the carpet.
Azriim frowned at that and said, тАЬMind the carpet,
fool.тАЭ
The Sojourner remained expressionless, motionless,
and considered. Riven knew his life sat on a bladeтАЩs edge.
The moments seemed hours. Finally, the Sojourner said to
Azriim, тАЬThe timing is poor, Azriim. Things are nearing
completion and you have introduced a . . . random element
into my plans.тАЭ
тАЬI enjoy random elements,тАЭ Azriim answered, a chal-
lenge in his tone.
Anger ямВashed in the SojournerтАЩs eyes. He raised his
staff slightly and Dolgan fell to the ямВoor. Azriim bowed
his head and took his hand from Riven.
Riven considered using the teleportation rod to get the
Nine Hells clear of there, but his pride refused to let him
run. He would make his play and see it through.
тАЬTime is short,тАЭ the Sojourner said to the room, and
Riven wondered at his meaning. тАЬI am disinclined to
indulge you. You will take another seed by sea to the
Eldritch Temple of Mystryl. Your human is an unneces-
sary risk. AccordinglyтАФтАЭ
тАЬI can be an asset,тАЭ Riven interrupted, even as he put
one hand to the teleportation rod. тАЬI know Cale well.тАЭ

MidnightтАЩs Mask тАв 21
 Azriim nodded and said, тАЬHe was his companion.тАЭ
тАЬHe was, Azriim, and that is why I wonder why he
aided you.тАЭ The Sojourner turned his gaze to Riven. тАЬThat