"Mage Storms 01 - Storm Warning" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lackey Mercedes)

"Of course. While she was there, she must have refrained from-' using
her powers. A difficult thing for a mage; use of magic often becomes a
habit too ingrained to break."

Charliss blinked slowly in satisfaction. Tremane was no fool; he saw
immediately the solution and the difficulty of implementing it.

"Precisely," he replied.

"On both counts.

And that was why I continued to use her. In business matters, the
woman's self-discipline was remarkable. As for Valdemarthough they
have begun again to use magic as we know it, the place is no less
peculiar than before, and many of the mages they seem to have invited
into their borders are from no land that my operatives recognize! Well,
that is all in the past; what we need to deal with is the current
situation. And that, Grand Duke Tremane, is where you come in."

Tremane simply waited, as any good and perfectly trained servant, for
his master to continue. But his eyes narrowed just a trifle, and
Charliss knew that his mind was working furiously.

A current of breeze stirred the tapestries behind him, but the flames
of the candles on the many-branched candelabras, protected in their
glass shades, did not even waver.

"Your Duchy borders Hardorn; you will therefore be familiar with the
area," Charliss stated, his tone and expression allowing no room for
dissension.

"The situation in Hardorn grows increasingly unstable by the moment. I
require a personal commander of my own in place there; someone who has
incentive, personal incentive, to see that the situation is dealt with
expeditiously."

"Personal incentive, my Emperor?" Tremane replied.

Charliss crossed his legs and leaned forward, ignoring the pain in his
hip joints.

"I am giving you a unique opportunity to prove, not only to me, but to
your rivals and your potential underlings, that you are the only truly
worthy candidate for the Wolf Crown. I intend to put you in command of
the Imperial forces in Hardorn. You will be answerable only to me.

you will prove yourself worthy by dealing with this situation and
bringing it to a successful conclusion."