"Jean Lorrah - Empire 01 - Savage Empire" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lorrah Jean)

As they began to unstrap their swords, however, Torio stiffened.
"MagisterтАФRead!" His delicate, skilled hands reversed their actions as the
alarm bell clanged, rousing all Readers to open their minds to the
message.

//Attack! Adigia is under attack! Battle positions!//

Three years ago, Lenardo would have dashed with Torio to defend the
gates. Fifteen years before, he would have run, as Decius should be doing,
to hide with the children. Now, however, his place was in the center tower
of the keep, deep within the stone walls where the most skilled Readers
would direct the battle while remaining safe from the attackers. For
Readers were the only defense of civilization against the encroachment of
the savages.

Lenardo was well into the passage before it occurred to him that Torio,
despite his youth, was an increasingly skilled Reader who should be
protected. I'll put it to Master Clement at the first opportunity.

The unlit passage twisted and turned, winding stairs deliberately
impeding progress. In utter blackness, it was negotiable only by a Reader.
A torch would throw hundreds of flickering shadows to fool the eye. For a
Reader, though, the passage might as well be open to the sunlight.

Lenardo caught up with Master Clement on the narrow, twisting stairs.
The old man was bent with rheumatism that slowed his steps, making the
trek to the safety of the tower a painful journey. As always when he Read
the Master's pain, -Lenardo had to force down the traitorous thought, If
only we had the skills of those savages!

Even as he took Master Clement's arm to help him into the
well-protected chamber, the attacking savages sent their power
thundering against the tower itself. Pure mental energy shook the very
stone about them.

//What are they doing?// Lenardo wondered.

//Wasting their energies, let us hope,// replied Master Clement.

The two men entered the chamber and lay down on the comfortable
couches. They would be sending then- minds out now to guide the troops
in battle; then: bodies must be left secure behind.

The routine was already old to Lenardo. He removed his boots and
stretched out, carefully composing his long limbs so that no part of his
body placed pressure on another, no wrinkle of clothing threatened to cut
off circulation. The process took only moments, but Master Clement was
already waiting when Lenardo's consciousness left his body.

With no physical sensations to distract, the two men began to Read the