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

TsinтАЩs slanted, silver-gray eyes peered over his aquiline nose in obvious disdain. The diminutive mage
had no patience whatsoever and clearly did not see that his own life hung by a thread. Of course, as a
Vizjerei, he not only had spells with which to likely defend himself, but the staff he held in his right hand
also carried protective magicks designed for countless circumstances.

One quick strike, though,Kentril thought to himself.One quick strike, and I can put an end to this
sanctimonious little toad . . .

тАЬItтАЩs about time!тАЭ snapped the mercenaryтАЩs employer. He shook one end of the staff in the captainтАЩs
face.тАЬWhat took you so long? You know IтАЩm running out of time!тАЭ

More than you think, you babbling cur . . .тАЬWhile you were wandering off, Master Tsin, I was trying
to save a man from one of those water serpents. We couldтАЩve used your help.тАЭ

тАЬYes, well, enough of this babble!тАЭ Quov Tsin returned, his gaze slipping back to the jungle behind him.
Likely he had not even heard what Kentril had just said. тАЬCome! Come quickly! You must see!тАЭ

As the Vizjerei turned away, Captain DumonтАЩs hand rose, the sword at the ready.

Gorst put his own hand on his friendтАЩs arm. тАЬLetтАЩs go see, Kentril.тАЭ

The giant casually stepped in front of the captain, effectively coming between Kentril and TsinтАЩs
unprotected back. The first two moved on, Kentril reluctantly following them.

He could wait a few moments longer.

First Quov Tsin, then Gorst, vanished among the plants. Kentril soon found himself needing to hack his
way through, but he took some pleasure in imagining each dismembered branch or vine as the
spellcasterтАЩs neck.

Then, without any warning, the jungle gave way. The early evening sun lit up the landscape before him as
it had not done in two weeks. Kentril found himself staring at a series of high, jagged peaks, the
beginnings of the vast chain running up and down the length of Kehjistan and heading even farther east for
as far as the eye could see.

And in the distance, just above the eastern base of a particularly tall and ugly peak at the very southern
tip of this particular chain, lay the weatherworn, jumbled remains of a once mighty city. The fragments of
a great stone wall encircling the entire eastern side could still be made out. A few hardy structures
maintained precarious stances within the city itself. One, possibly the home of the lost kingdomтАЩs ruler,
stood perched atop a vast ledge, no doubt havingonce enabled the master of the realm to gaze down
upon his entire domain.
 Although the jungle had surrendered in part to this region, lush plants still covered much of the landscape
and had, over time, invaded the ruins themselves. What they had not already covered, the elements had
battered well. Erosion had ripped away part of the northern section of the wall and taken with it a good
portion of the city. Further in, a sizable chunk of the mountain had collapsed onto the interior of the city.

Kentril could not imagine that there would be much left intact anywhere inside. Time had taken its toll on
this ancient place.