"Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon - Mage Wars 03 - The Silver Gryphon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lackey Mercedes)

to ensure was never a chore for her, and she had loved the attention and approval.
Skan reflected that it was odd, the way the Haighlei had acted concerning her. For them, a creature
with the mind of a child and the ability to read anyone's thoughts would have been a blasphemy. For a
year or two after the Eclipse Ceremony, Skan was fairly certain the Kaled'a'in had been able to keep
Kechara's existence secret from their alliesтАФbut eventually they surely had discovered just what she
was. There had been many, many circumspect little hints, diplomatic tail-chases and discreet suggestions.
Finally an official communique from High King Shalaman had come, advising the "permanent elimination
of the long-range communicator of White Gryphon"тАФreferring to KecharaтАФmaking it clear by its
phrasing that it was not an idle request, and that not doing so would have grave consequences.
Skandranon, Zhaneel, and Amberdrake went to Khimbata to appeal to Shalaman in private, and
returned to White Gryphon with a delegation of mages led by Advisor Leyuet. Between various nervous
ceremonies of state, "Papa Skan" explained to Kechara that it was time for her to rest from her work,
and that they were going to make sure nobody was ever scared of her. Kechara trusted Skandranon
completely, of course, and gleefully greeted the delegation. The grim-faced Haighlei, who were steeling
themselves to meet a monster and fight against its horrible soul-invading power, instead faced a little
creature who only thought they were very funny and demanded their absurdly elaborate and colorful hats
to play with.
Well, that's the Haighlei for you. I suspect one could probably get away with just about
anything, so long as it was wrapped in the proper historical protocol. Come to think of it, the
reason Shalaman was so incensed about those murders in his Court was because the
assassinations hadn't been done with the proper protocol! Perhaps if we could have found a way
for Kechara to be put into Shalaman's service under their religion, she could have kept her
powersтАФbut that wouldn't really have been true to her, either, and it would only have made her
into the tool, the bargaining chip that Urtho feared she'd be used as. It would have destroyed her
loving innocence if she were used against one of us and realized it. At least this way she could stay
at home and play. At least she can still talk to all the gryphons, as long as they're within the city
limits.
"Well, what are we going to do, old friend?" the aging gryphon asked, as they picked their way
steadily down to the topmost level of the city. This level was the receiving platform for everything
lowered down from the cliffs above, or sent up from the city to the cliffs. Work crews were already
unloading pallets of food from the farms, and would continue to do so all day. "What do we do about the
children, I mean?"
"What can we do?" Amberdrake asked, with only the faintest hint of irritation. He led the way to the
broad white-painted stairs that formed the back slope of the White Gryphon's "head." "Nothing. This is
their job; the job they chose. They've been assigned to it by their superiors, who have judged them
capable. Like it or not, they have grown up, and I'm afraid we had better start getting used to that."
Skan ground his beak and prowled after him, talons clicking on the stone ramp alongside the stairs,
which was easier for a gryphon to handle than steps. "I don't like it," he said finally. "But I can't tell you
why."
Amberdrake stopped suddenly, turned, and faced him, looking down at his friend with a troubled
expression as the gryphon stopped a step later and looked up. "I don't either, and I haven't any real
reason to feel this way. I wish I could say that I have a premonition about thisтАФbecause this feeling that
there is something wrong makes me look like a nervous old auntyтАФ"
"But?" Skan prompted. "You're worried you don't have the correct dress to play aunty?"
Amberdrake chuckled, then sighed. "But I am afraid I haven't had anything of the sort, and there
hasn't been a solid sign from anyone who does have Foresight that something is going to go wrong with
Blade and Tad. I know what I would say to any of my clients who felt this way."
Skan looked into his friend's eyes, and shook his head. "Let me guess. What we are feeling is a
combination of old war reactions, and unhappiness because this fledging of our youngsters is a sure sign
that we are getting old."