"Richard A. Knaak - WarCraft - Day Of The Dragon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Knaak Richard A)

routing them entirely. Even the orcs' great chieftain, the legendary Orgrim Doomhammer, had been
unable to stem the advancing armies and had finally capitulated. With the exception of a few renegade
clans, the surviving invaders had been rounded up into enclaves and kept under secure watch by military
units led personally by members of the Knights of the Silver Hand. For the first time in many, many years,
lasting peace looked to be a promise, not a faint wish.

And yet . . . a sense of unease still touched the senior council of the Kirin Tor. Thus it was that the
highest of the high met in the Chamber of the Air, so-called because it seemed a room without walls, only
a vast, ever-changing sky with clouds, light, and darkness, racing past the master wizards as if the time of
the world had sped up. Only the gray, stone floor with its gleaming diamond symbol, representing the
four elements, gave any solidity to the scene.

Certainly the wizards themselves did nothing in that regard, for they, clad in their dark cloaks that
covered not only face but form, seemed to waver with the movements of the sky, almost as if they, too,
were but illusion. Although their numbers included both men and women, the only sign of that was
whenever one of them spoke, at which point a face would become partially visible, if somewhat indistinct
in detail.

There were six this meeting, the six most senior, although not necessarily the most gifted. The leaders of
the Kirin Tor were chosen by several means, magic but one of them.

тАЬSomething is happening in Khaz Modan,тАЭ announced the first in a stentorian voice, the vague image of a
bearded face briefly visible. A myriad pattern of stars floated through his body. тАЬNear or in the caverns
held by the Dragonmaw clan.тАЭ

тАЬTell us something we don't already know,тАЭ rasped the second, a woman likely of elder years but still
strong of will. A moon briefly shone through her cowl. тАЬThe orcs there remain one of the few holdouts,
now that Doomhammer's warriors have surrendered and the chieftain's gone missing.тАЭ

The first mage clearly took some umbrage, but he kept himself calm as he replied. тАЬVery well! Perhaps
this will interest you more. . . . I believe Deathwing is on the move again.тАЭ

This startled the rest, the elder woman included. Night suddenly changed into day, but the wizards
ignored what, for them, was a common thing in this chamber. Clouds drifted past the head of the third of
their number, who clearly did not believe this statement.

тАЬDeathwing is dead!тАЭ the third declared, his form the only one hinting at corpulence. тАЬHe plunged into
the sea months ago after this very council and a gathering of our strongest struck the mortal blow! No
dragon, even him, could withstand such might!тАЭ

Some of the others nodded, but the first went on. тАЬAnd where was the corpse? Deathwing was like no
other dragon. Even before the goblins sealed the adamantium plates to his scaly hide, he offered a threat
with the potential to dwarf that of the Horde. . . .тАЭ

тАЬBut what proof do you have of his continued existence?тАЭ This from a young woman clearly in the bloom
of youth. Not as experienced as the others, but still powerful enough to be one of the council. тАЬWhat?тАЭ
тАЬThe death of two red dragons, two of Alexstrasza's get. Torn asunder in a manner only one of their
own kindтАФ one of gargantuan proportionsтАФcould have managed.тАЭ

тАЬThere are other large dragons.тАЭ