"Mercedes Lackey - Obsidian 02 - To Light A Candle" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lackey Mercedes)

"I don't serve anyone!" Kellen said angrily.

"Oh? And you a Wildmage," Other-Kellen said mockingly. "I should think you would have learned
better the moment you opened the Books."

Kellen snapped his mouth shut abruptly. If this was a fight, he'd just lost the first battle. He did
serve the Wild Magic, and so far he'd done exactly what it told him to do. How free did that make
him?

"You've made some bad choices in the past," Other-Kellen continued smoothly. "Even you're willing
to admit that. Wouldn't you like the chance to undo them? To start over, knowing what you know
now? You can have that. Few people get that opportunity."

Other-Kellen smiled, and for the first time, Kellen could see his father's face mirrored in this
stranger's that was his own. The sight shocked and distracted him, even in this moment and in this
place. Assurance... competence... or just corruption?

"You left Armethalieh because you rebelled against your father's plans for you, but you know better
now, don't you? Arch-Mage Lycaelon only wants for you what he has always enjoyed himself! And
that's not so bad, now, is it? What does it matter if it takes a bit of groveling and scraping, and a
lot of boring make-work to get there? Think about how you used to live - and how you live now.
The life of a High Mage has its compensations - and the High Mages were right, back when they
walled themselves off in their city. They were right to want to build safeguards against the prices
and bargains the Wild Magic required," his doppelganger said, his voice as silken and sweet as
honey, reasonable and logical. Kellen himself had never sounded like that. "What's so wrong with
trying to improve something? They still practice magic, and they do so without the prices that the
Wild Magic demands. They give their citizens a good life - and if life in the Golden City is too
restrictive, well, when you're Arch-Mage, Kellen, you'll be able to make all the changes you've
dreamed of."

That shocked Kellen so much that he almost dropped the keystone. Of all of the things he had
imagined and fantasized about, that was never one that had occurred to him!
"And you can be Arch-Mage," the double said, persuasively. "You have the gift and the talent; your
father isn't wrong about that! If everyone must serve, then choose your service. Serve the City. Go
back now, beg your father's forgiveness - it won't be that hard. Give up the Wild Magic. That won't
be hard, either, will it? Step back into the life you should have had, and work for the good of
Armethalieh. You'll have everything you wanted. Just think of all you can do for the City when you
return..."

Kellen stared in horrified fascination at his doppelganger. Was this really him? The person he could
have been - or could still be?

If he did this, could he even turn the City to help the Elves, and forge a new Alliance as in the old
days?

But Jermayan would know what had happened -

Shalkan surely would -

Vestakia -