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

"Rumor was that Baloran had learned a way to prolong his own life,"
she said. "One reason his defenses were so goodтАФeverybody wanted his
secret. Anyway, there are records of transactions with him well over a
century after he arrived in Allanmere, too many records to doubt. There's
a number of mages in Allanmere who'll swear he's alive even now."

"And you think he took it?" Donya asked skeptically.

Shadow shrugged.

"Whoever took it has to fit two requirementsтАФa reason to take it, and a
way to take it," she said. "As to physically taking the gem, I'd have to agree
with Vikram that it was all but impossible. I know what kind of
protections he had on that thing. I could've done it, given enough
planning, the right equipment, and a little luck. Vikram, of course, had
access to it. Even his underlings didn't; since Bobrick tried to have him
killed, he's been more suspicious of his assistants. The mage who casts the
Temple of Urex's protections has already testified under truthspell, and
there are no mages in Allanmere better at protective magic; that's why
Vikram hired him. Baloran, though, was better. I know my own people,
and none of them could've done it. And there's no new talent in town; I
watch sharp for that. So that leaves only Baloran and Vikram who could've
even gotten their hands on the thing.

"Then there aren't many who'd have a reason," Shadow continued.
"Stealing it for moneyтАФtoo naive; where'd you sell it? Stealing it for
ransom's foolish. Anyone who'd do that would have both the Guild and the
Council of Churches on them at the first hint. Besides, the Temple of Urex
can't pay, and anyone who'd done their research would know it. The only
other value of the gem is its magic, and that's only valuable to the mage
who created it. Baloran."

"But why?" Donya asked. "You said yourself that Baloran probably gave
up on the gem. Why would he take it, why now, and why frame the Guild
in general or you in specific?"

"Framing me or the Guild keeps official attention on us, rather than
looking for other suspects," Shadow mused. "That alone could be enough.
As you've observed, I make a likely looking scapegoat. It could be that I'm
the first thief Baloran thought capable of stealing the Eye, although from
what I've heard of the previous Guildmasters, I don't know. Why he took
it, and why nowтАФnow, that's what worries me."

Shadow sighed.

"It could be he simply wants or needs it back now for some reason.
Maybe I'm seeing plots against the Guild behind every barrel. It could be
that he only now located it because of the recent move of the Temple of
UrexтАФthe Eye being removed, however briefly, from its safeguards.