"Karen Koehler - Slayer 02 - Dragon Blood" - читать интересную книгу автора (Koehler Karen)

тАЬThat is the basic analysis,тАЭ the Ryuujin said as he sipped his scotch. тАЬWhat is your personal opinion?тАЭ

Kage thought about that a moment. тАЬHe is a twin, therefore he is dangerous and unpredictable.тАЭ

The Ryuujin went to look through his great picture window at the deceptively serene night city lurking
under the dark. тАЬTell me about this.тАЭ

тАЬHis sister crossed over to the other side of the Web, yet she can speak to him still and direct his
actions. Because of her death, he believes all slayers are his enemy.тАЭ

тАЬAnd all other banpaia?тАЭ

тАЬHe is not a banpaia, my Ryuujin, but something wholly new and different. He is...a dhampir.тАЭ

The Ryuujin looked over his shoulder. тАЬI am not familiar with that word.тАЭ

тАЬIt is a rough Bulgarian word to describe a creature which is the result of a banpaia coupling with a
human female.тАЭ

тАЬI did not know that was possible.тАЭ

тАЬUnder the right circumstances...yes.тАЭ

тАЬKage...тАЭ

тАЬNo, Ryuujin. I am of pure breeding.тАЭ

The Ryuujin shook his head. тАЬI find it odd we never spoke of this.тАЭ

тАЬIt was...unnecessary information, until now.тАЭ

тАЬI agree.тАЭ The Ryuujin turned around, still cradling the untouched drink in the center of his palm. He was
a small man, like Kage, but much more muscular. Well into his sixties and he had the face and body of a
man in his early 50s. Many believed Kage to be the son, Ashikawa the young father, when in fact Kage
had lived his masterтАЩs life many times over. Some of the RyuujinтАЩs seemingly endless vibrancy was due to
the strict fitness regiment he kept, but most of it was the work of KageтАЩs alien blood on his masterтАЩs
mortal cells. Still, even KageтАЩs age-defying blood could not remove the worry and years from the
RyuujinтАЩs eyes.

Kage felt that worry burrow a smoldering hole through his heart. He loved the great Dragon Lord, loved
him in too many ways to count, in ways scarcely explored by most mortals--and even fewer immortals. It
was a love of common blood, love of self-preservation and survival, and yet love of something else,
something greater, vaster, and more perfect than himself. The love one had, perhaps, of a god. тАЬYou
look unwell, my Ryuujin. Perhaps I could persuade you to partake of my life?тАЭ

The Ryuujin swirled his glass of scotch but did not drink of it. тАЬToo many years, Kage,тАЭ he said. He
looked up. тАЬKage, tell me, what does time mean to you?тАЭ

As always, Kage was tempted to lie if it meant comforting his Ryuujin. As always, he chose to be truthful