"Boreal Moon - 02 - Ironcrown Moon" - читать интересную книгу автора (May Julian)

УThe New Conflict is upon us, Grand Master, and youТd better think long and hard about which side you choose to support. Beynor is too self-centered to serve the evil Lights of his own free will, but I believe that they have nevertheless made him their puppet. As you are well aware, itТs difficult for them to interact directly with our material world, except through the subtle fluxes of power and pain. They need groundling agentsЧjust as my benevolent Source doesЧand Beynor is their perfect choice. Have you forgotten that he carried away the Unknown Potency when he sought refuge in the Dawntide Isles? All of his other sigils were taken from himЧsave that one, which the Lights unaccountably permitted him to keep.Ф
УThalassa Dru, what are you saying?Ф Ridcanndal looked at her askance. УHas Beynor activated the Potency to use against us?Ф
УItТs quite possible that he hasЧperhaps with the connivance of the Lights themselves, if they see him as a useful adjunct to their capricious schemes. Now take me to the tomb!Ф
It was impossible to deny her. The right of access was hers by law. But what did she intend to do? Ridcanndal sighed, took up a tall oil lamp, and ignited a flame within its crystal chimney. УHas the Source also sent you to stave off the incursion of Salka into our lands? Will you take up the Crown of Moss yourself?Ф
УAlas, I have no such mandate. Conrig Wincantor is the only one who can defend you from invading monsters.Ф
УI was finishing the draft of an appeal to him when you came to my door. The Conjure-Queen assured us that the Sovereign of Blenholme would come to our aid if we were attacked. But what if his help comes too late? In the SalkaТs last assault upon us, it was only the queenТs use of her Great Stone Weather-maker that beat the brutes away from our shores. The warships sent by Conrig served only to harry and punish them once they had already withdrawn.Ф
УThanks to Ullanoth, Moss now has its own small navy and a force of trained fighting warriors. Use them. But make plans also against the blackest contingency. This is the only advice I can give you. Now take me to the tomb with no further ado.Ф
He could only obey, knowing that no magic of his could stop her. He led her from his tower into the main keep of the castle, and from there down seemingly endless winding staircases of black, dripping rock into a labyrinth of tunnels and disused chambers, where walled-off sections masked ancient secrets or led to places long forgotten.
The tomb of the first Conjure-King was less than a century old, although Fenguard Castle itself predated Rothbannon by nearly five hundred years, having long been the home of renegade Didionite wizards. Some legends hinted that the deepest shafts and burrows were the work of the Salka, and humankind had raised the castle on foundations built in primordial times by the amphibian monsters.
УMy brother Linndal, when he was a reckless young boy, explored these ancient subterranean portions of Fenguard,Ф Thalassa Dru remarked, as they traveled the maze of dark corridors. УIТd not be surprised if Beynor did also. Have you considered that some of these passages might lead outside the castle walls, below the Darkling River and into the waters of the Little Fen itself? They might provide a way for Salka to penetrate the defenses of Fenguard CastleЧprovided they had a guide.Ф
УI never thought of such a thing,Ф Ridcanndal admitted. УWeТll take what precautions we can against such an intrusion.Ф He was becoming increasingly rattledЧnot only by the way this woman had compelled him to obey her, but also by the confident portentousness of her remarks. How in the world was he going to explain all this to Zimroth and the Glaumerie Guild? At the very least, he should have found a way to alert them to the arrival of the late kingТs mysterious sister. But bewilderment and chagrin (or was it her sorcery?) had distracted him, and now it was too late.
They had come at last to the sealed entrance to RothbannonТs tomb, which lay at the end of a dry tunnel that looked almost freshly hewn. УUnbind the defensive spells blocking the door,Ф Thalassa Dru told him.
Meekly, Ridcanndal pronounced the lengthy incantation that protected the tomb against ordinary intruders. Then the sorceress laid her own hand upon the solid stone door-panel. It was incised with the swan insignia and an inscription:
ROTHBANNON ASH BAJOR
C.Y. 911- 1052
FIRST CONJURE-KING OF MOSS
AND LIBERATOR OF THE SEVEN STONES
УPUISSANCE AND PRUDENCEФ
УWhat a pity,Ф she murmured, Уthat he was the only one of his blood to follow that wise motto!Е Recite the rest of the spell, Grand Master.Ф
He hesitated only for a moment, then spoke the words, concluding in a loud voice, УOpen to a true descendant of Rothbannon!Ф
With a harsh grating rumble, the stone door rolled away. She admonished Ridcanndal to wait outside and entered. The sepulchre itself was a polished black-marble cube that measured less than an ell on each side, containing the cremated remains of the great sorcerer. Resting on its lid in a depression that fitted it perfectly was the small platinum casket that had been made to hold the original Seven Stones Rothbannon had taken from the Salka.
Thalassa Dru lifted the lid, saw the gleam of the six living sigils and the empty place where the Conjure-QueenТs lost Fortress stone had once rested. Reverently, she closed the container and carried it out of the tomb.
Ridcanndal stared at her apprehensively, still having no idea what she intended to do. УAnd now, my lady?Ф
УLead me to the room where my nieceТs body lies. And then I pray you to secure for me a small drum.Ф
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Dear soul, youТve been successful!
The subtle form of Thalassa Dru opened the box and emptied the sigils onto the frost-encrusted floor of the SourceТs prison. Her aura was a triumphant blaze of rainbow colors. УAs you see, my master. The cursed things are still alive and bonded to her, but that should make their abolition all the more precious to our cause.Ф
The dead black shape shackled in sapphire uttered a deep sigh of satisfaction. One of the gemlike manacles confining him now glowed so faintly that it was nearly as transparent as the ice-flows streaking the cavern walls. Shield your eyes, then, while I unite with the Likeminded to deal with these abominations. I thinkЧI hopeЧBut letТs see what happens this time, now that the obliteration of DarasiloТs Trove has already brought me so much closer to atonement.
The flash of dissolution was more intense than she had ever experienced before. When Thalassa Dru opened her eyes, long moments passed before she could focus her vision. Then she saw what had happened, and tears of joy sprang to her dazzled eyes.
УOne of your arms is free!Ф she breathed. The pale manacle and its chain lay on the cavern floor, shattered like glass.
I am still held fast by the other limb. But we progress, Thalassa Dru. We progress.
He reached out with the unshackled tentacle and gently pressed one talon into the wall of ice, extracting a small object which he held out to the sorceress. It was a sphere no larger than a pea that shone like an emerald star.
Here is her essence, liberated from their evil thrall and from all pain. You and
Dobnelu know how to reunite it to her body. But she must remain with you in your mountain sanctuary until the last remnants of power-hunger are cleansed from her soul. You two will be her guides and teachers. Ansel Pikan, unfortunately, can no longer he trusted to act without prejudice.
She tucked the green gem into her bodice. УWhat are we to do about him, master? It seems plain that his sentimental attachment to Maudrayne North-keep has clouded his judgment and perhaps even diminished his commitment to the Conflict. Without consulting us, heТs hidden the woman and her son in a place where Conrig WincantorТs men are unlikely to find them. I think he still hopes to solve the problem of the princess and her son peacefully.Ф
As I would also hope to do! IТve put into play certain factors that may yet bring about such a fortunate resolution. But ultimately, MaudrayneТs fate rests in her own hands. The doleful truth is that ConrigТs Sovereignty cannot be allowed to fall because of her thirst for revenge. Ansel must be made to understand this. If he balks, then we must remedy the situation as best we can. IТll bespeak you if the necessity for action arises. And now farewell, dear soul.
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Thalassa Dru awoke in the castle chamber where UllanothТs body had lain in state. Two candles burned low on either side of the Conjure-QueenТs bier. The samite-draped platform was empty. She uttered a deep sigh.
УMy lady?Ф A tentative voice came from behind the cushioned chair where the sorceress had sat while performing the drum ritual. Wix, the little old man who was UllanothТs most devoted friend, came to stand in front of her with both hands clasped humbly over his heart. УDid it go well? Oh, please tell me that my dear queen will live again!Ф
УWhat did you see when the drumming stopped?Ф she asked him.
УYou went into a trance. The casket in your lap melted away like smoke, then so did her poor lifeless huskЧonly before it vanished utterly it seemed transformed, so that she was once again as young and beautiful as she had been before the terrible stones consumed her with painЕФ
УAh.Ф Thalassa Dru smiled, then took the spherical emerald from the bodice of her gown and showed it to him. УHer body has been transported through subtle means to my own dwelling place far away in the mountains of Tarn. But her living essence resides here. The unnatural link between her and the Coldlight Army has been severed. I shall carry this soul receptacle safely home with me now, and after a time Ullanoth sha Linndal will indeed live again.У
Wix bent closer to look at the shining gem, his face suffused with wonder. УIТve served the dear lass for all her natural life. Will you allow me to continue? Will you take me with you?Ф
УThe journey will be long and weТll sometimes travel in strange ways, but if you wish, you may come along.Ф
УIТm ready now,Ф he said simply.
Thalassa Dru restored the emerald to its hiding place, went to the chamber door, and opened it. In the corridor outside were Ridcanndal, Lady Zimroth, and a group of other Glaumerie Guild members, looking both fearful and angry. She swung the door wide, and with a wordless gesture invited them to enter.
УGone!Ф Ridcanndal exclaimed. УThe sigils are goneЧand youТve taken our queen away as well!Ф
УShe was already far from here.Ф The sorceressТs gentle face grew stern. УAnd while she reigned, you withheld your love and trust from her. So now prepare to receive a different sort of ruler.Ф
УWho?Ф Lady Zimroth demanded. УWho will take UllanothТs place? Will it be Beynor?Ф
But Thalassa Dru walked past her without another word, followed by Wix. The Guild members would have come after them and remonstrated further, but they were overcome by a strange lethargy that slowed their steps, and by the time they recovered, both the sorceress and the old man had vanished.