"J. Robert King - Invasion Cycle 01 - Invasion" - читать интересную книгу автора (King Robert J)

the nearest haven to make a controlled crash.
"There!" Gerrard shouted where he stood in the prow.
He jabbed a finger beyond broad grasslands to a walled
metropolis. "Benalia City!"
He would always remember the gleaming limestone of
that placeтАФ thin white towers with conic hats, tall
windows with elegant tracery, larger-than-life statues
gazing over endless grasslands. Gerrard had trained there,
had become a master-at-arms in the Benalish military.
Benalia City had taught him the deadliness of blades and
politics. He would still be among those sword masters
except for Sisay's abduction. He had left his division to
help save the ship's captain.
"Karn," Gerrard called into the bow speaking tube, "can
you get us there?"
There came no response from below decks except a
shudder of exertion that jiggled the whole ship. Sisay's
voice came through.
"He's already drawing on his inner reserves to keep us
aloft. He'll get us there."
"How bad is the damage?" Gerrard asked.


35
 Invasion

Hanna replied, "She'll heal herself. There's lots of heat
stressтАФ worn contacts, overworked parts. Give her an hour
or two, and she'll be ready for another fight."
An alarm rose from the grand walls of the city.
"Speaking of a fight," Gerrard hissed under his breath.
In marketplace stalls, citizens looked up and pointed
skyward. Soldiers clambered up the walls to reinforce the
guards. Crossbow archers cranked bolts into place. Swords
glinted in the sun. These were among the best-trained
warriors in Dominaria. Ballista crews wheeled their siege
engines about, loading them with thirty-foot spears of
spruce. The iron-tipped bolts could rip their way through
Weatherlight's hull. Just now, ten such machines targeted
the ship's bow.
Gerrard raised his arms in the Benalish signal for
alliance and parley. The ballistae and crossbows remained
trained on the smoldering ship.
"Peace!" Gerrard shouted in a voice that sounded like
war.
With massive grace, the ship edged out over the elegant
turrets of Benalia City. Pennants snapped above hipped
gables. Among colonnades of limestone stood gaping
dignitaries, their robes hanging in mute amazement from
their arms. The whole city blinked in wonder and a little