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

battle. The savage warriors had already broken through the town's
defenses, and the townspeople were retreating to the stronger-walled
academy grounds. The academy, however, was the target. It had been
attacked before, but never with such numbers, in such a determined
effort!

//Tell Tiberium!// instructed Master Clement, then concentrated his
efforts on guiding their troops strategically.
 Lenardo reached out impatiently, not wanting to deliver messages when
he was needed for defense. But the Master was right:тАФthe central
government at Tiberium must know that the savages were trying to push
the empire's borders back once moreтАФand it looked as if they might
succeed!

Concentrating on the academy at Tiberium, Lenardo found himself
"there," a faint consciousness floating in the courtyard where young
women were practicing the intricacies of an ever-changing dance. The
academy at Tiberium was female, as the one at Adigia was male. Briefly
touching the minds of those in the courtyard, he found that Portia was not
among them. Reading outward, almost at the limit of his strength to hold
himself a single entity, he found her in meditation, her thoughts directed
inward, not Reading.

Once he had found his object, Lenardo could focus on her, no longer
fearing his consciousness would dissipate. How to get her attention?
Again traitorous envy suggested, A savage would tug her sleeve or pull
her hair. But he was no savage; he had no such power, and would not use
it if he had. Besides, a savage could not Read.

//Portia!//

No response. She was the strongest and most skilled of Readers; thus
her barriers were the most firm against intrusion. However, she would be
sensitive to a concerted attempt to intrude, from a strong and practiced
mind. So he mentally shouted at her, seeking over and over to Read her
with all his strengthтАж until at last she yielded to irritation and dropped
her barriers for a moment to Read who was pestering her.

//Lenardo!// She Read instantly that he was not physically nearтАФeven
if he had been before her, she would not have recognized his face, as they
had never seen one another. Portia's warm greeting was tinged with
apprehension. //Why do you contact me?//

//We are under attack here at Adigia. You must ask the emperor for
more troops.//

//They are attempting to push back the border again? Or do they seek
to take the academy?//

//Both, I think. Portia, we may be able to hold them oft for a few days,