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

life last year, not to mention his place as the head of the Council of
Churches."

"You know he won't admit it," Donya smiled. "He insists Bobrick was
accidentally killed when the temple burnedтАФwhich he also blames you for,
by the way."

"Well, that was my faultтАФindirectly, anyway," Shadow chuckled. "At
least he only had to rebuild the Temple of Urex. I had to rebuild a whole
Guild, and he can be thanked for at least part of that. Anyway, that's kept
me so busy I've hardly had time to hit the market these days, let alone pull
off a complicated job like the Eye of Urex. Even if I'd been idiotic enough
to do it."

"The plain fact is that I wouldn't have said anybody but you could have
done it," Donya grimaced. "Since Vikram rebuilt the Temple of Urex he's
paid heavily for extra protection, a lot of it magical, with you in mind, I
think. I can't think of any way to have taken the Eye without your
bracelet."

"Well, the simple fact is that I didn't," Shadow sighed. "Anyway, what
would I do with the thing? I could hardly sell it around town, could I?
Nobody'd dare to buy it, unless it was some squeaker looking to chirp to
the guard and collect a reward, too. Besides, the thing's a fake."

"What?" Donya choked.

Shadow nodded.

"Uh-huh. Piece of glass. Good fake, very good; you have to know what
you're doing and you have to get close to find out. That glow's from
whatever magic is on it. Other than what the Temple of Urex might pay to
get it back, it's worth no more than about five Suns for ornamental value
except to the mage who cast it."

"That's impossible!"

"Doe, I know gems," Shadow said. "Have to, in my profession. Since the
run-in with the Council, I've kept my eye on the Temple of Urex and
Vikram."

"And on the Eye of Urex, supposedly the largest gem in Allanmere?"
Donya asked wryly.

"What can I say?" Shadow said innocently. "Professional interest.
Anyway, I've had people in the temple, and when I heard what some of
them said, I went myself. Trust me, no self-respecting thief would have
thought the Eye worth the bother, except maybe for ransom value. I don't
know whether Vikram knows the Eye's a fake or not, but I do know he
probably can't afford for his worshippers to find out, so he'd pay. Problem