"Anne Logston - Shadow 02 - Shadow Hunt" - читать интересную книгу автора (Logston Anne)

on the Guild to see it wrecked now in a conflict it can't possibly win. A few
more years and I might' ve taken the risk."

"So you wish the ruby found and returned?" Blade scoffed. "More your
type of work than mine."

"Not quite." Shadow sighed. "I know where the ruby is; a mage has it.
Obviously I want the ruby retrieved. I'd also like to find out why this mage
wanted me blamed for the theftтАФa personal grudge against me, or against
the Guild? And in either case, why this charade? Without knowing that,
returning the ruby won't be enough; the mage will just try something
more tricky. The obvious alternative is to have the ruby returned, and to
have the mage become dead."

Blade shrugged, idly turning the empty wine goblet in her hands.
 "The problem is plain, the solution simple. I don't see why you think I
would be willing to waive payment."

Shadow eyed Blade curiously.

"The mage's name is Baloran."

The goblet was suddenly stilled in the black-gloved hands. There was a
long moment of silence, during which Blade gazed at the elf through eyes
narrowed to mere slits.

"What is that to me?" she asked at last.

Shadow folded her hands behind her head and smiled innocently.

"You're quite a mystery, Blade," she said. "Nobody knows much about
you, where you come from, even what you are. A year ago you piqued my
curiosity. Three decades of one's life, after all, isn't a common price. You
touched your lips to the palm of my hand and left a mark there that's
roused my interest. Since then I've tried to see what I could learn about
you and the strange dagger you bear, a dagger that leaves its victims not
only dead but, according to the most powerful necromancers, devoid of
their souls. There weren't many who knew anything about you, and fewer
who would tell what they knew, but I did finally piece together a most
interesting story.

"Apparently a powerful mage, named Baloran, famed for his power over
demons and his remarkable longevity, once lived near Allanmere after the
Black Wars. He wasn't much liked, for he was a nasty sort more suited to
war than peace; and he wasn't much known, for he was quite a recluse. He
was rumored to be immortal. He had a strong fear of thieves, that much is
known, probably because he'd had something very valuable stolen in the
past. Namely a large ruby which became known as the Eye of Urex. At any
rate, he was very jealous of his possessions, and was known to set a great
many safeguards on his valuables.