"Richard A. Knaak - The Kingdom Of Shadow" - читать интересную книгу автора (Knaak Richard A)

Kentril rubbed his mustache. He had a very real answer for the ancient sorcererтАЩs fate. тАЬAn animal ate
him, or he had an accident.тАЭ

тАЬI might have thought the same, my dear captain, if I had not early on in my efforts procured this.тАЭ

Quov Tsin reached into a massive pouch where he kept his most valued notes and withdrew an old
scroll. He held it out to Kentril, who reluctantly took it.

Captain Dumon unrolled it as gently as he could. Theparchment was fragile and the script written on it
badly faded, but with effort he could make it out. тАЬThis was written by a man from Westmarch!тАЭ

тАЬYes . . . the mercenary captain who journeyed with Gregus Mazi. I found it both ironic and perhaps
telling that you approached me when I sent news of my offer to those who might be interested. I see it as
fate that we two follow the tracks of my predecessor and this man.тАЭ

тАЬThis manтАЭ proved to be one Humbart Wessel, a veteran fighter with a thankfully plain manner of
writing. Kentril puzzled through the passages, at first finding nothing.

тАЬToward the bottom,тАЭ Tsin offered.

The slim mercenary read over that part of the aged scroll, which Humbart Wessel had clearly written
years after the fact.

On the seventh day, near dusk,the passage began,Master Mazi again approached the edge of the
ruins. Says I to him, that this questтАЩs seen no good end and we should go, but he says heтАЩs certain
this time. The shadow will touch at just the right angle. It has to.

Master Mazi promised much gold to us and another offer none thereтАЩd take, however worthy any
might think themselves. Fly up to Heaven . . . older now, I still wouldnтАЩt have taken it.

The shadow came like he said, NymyrтАЩs hand reaching out for old Ureh. We watched, certain as
before that weтАЩd been on a foolтАЩs quest.

Aah, what fools we were to believe that!

I recall the shadow. I recall the shimmering. How the ruins suddenly looked alive again. How the
lights glowed inside! Swear I still will that I heard the voices of folk, but couldnтАЩt see any!

тАЬIтАЩm coming . . .тАЭ Those were Master MaziтАЩs last words, but not to us, though. I remember them
still, and I remember how we thought we saw the glitter of the gold that heтАЩd told us about again
and againтАФbut not one man would enter. Not one man would follow. Master Mazi went it alone.

We camped there, hearing the voices, hearing some of them call to us, it seemed. None of us
would go, though. Tomorrow, Isays to the others, tomorrow when Master Mazi comes out and
shows allтАЩs well, weтАЩll go in and get our fill. One night, it wonтАЩt matter.
And in the morning, all we saw were ruins. No lights. No voices.

No Master Mazi.