"Julian May - Boreal Moon 2 - Ironcrown Moon" - читать интересную книгу автора (May Julian)

same time that it was deemed supremely dangerous.

For long centuries following the damnation of the stoneтАЩs Salka creator, the precise manner of the PotencyтАЩs activation and operation had
been forgotten by other members of the amphibian race. The person who made itтАФ supposedly to be used as the ultimate weapon against
the conquering hordes of the Emperor Bazekoy, although the monsters were not certain of thisтАФhad in the end failed to empower it.

Never brought to life, dreaded more than cherished, the Unknown Potency had become an enigmatic symbol of extinct Salka glory. Over
the centuries, learned thaumaturgists among the monsters believed that the sigil might hold the key to unimaginably great magic
surpassing that of the Beaconfolk But none had been brave enough to test it, for fear of the Great LightsтАЩ capricious wrath.



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 May, Julian - Boreal Moon 2 - Ironcrown Moon


About a hundred years earlier, through subterfuge, the Unknown Potency and six other notable sigils had passed from the Dawntide Salka
into the hands of an extraordinary human wizard named Rothbannon, who used some of the stones to establish himself as the first
Conjure-King of Moss. Although Rothbannon did eventually learn the spells that would activate the Unknown Potency, he and his
descendants were disinclined to make use of the dubious sigilтАФas had been Beynor himself, even when the security of his throne was at
stake and the fickle Beaconfolk turned against him. As the Great Lights repudiated and cursed the young king, they unaccountably left in
his possession the тАЬdeadтАЭ Unknown Potency, at the same time forbidding him to make use of it, or any other sigil, on pain of instant
annihilation. But the Lights had not stopped Beynor from handing over the Unknown to the Salka.

Nor had they prevented him from engaging in studies concerning the nature of the cryptic stone while he lived in the Dawntide Citadel
under KalawnnтАЩs protectionтАж

тАЬWe give you leave to approach us, Beynor,тАЭ the Master Shaman now said, тАЬand to speak to me and my august colleagues about your
researches.тАЭ

He came forward, and without preamble pointed to the Unknown Potency on its golden tripod. тАЬEminences, IтАЩve discovered what this
thing does.тАЭ

The leaders uttered undignified whoops of astonishment. The Supreme Warrior, who was the largest and most physically imposing of the
Four, surged up from his couch and slithered across the dais with astonishing speed. He plucked from its resting place the small object
resembling a hard translucent ribbon twisted into the form of a figure eight, and held the thing high while bellowing into BeynorтАЩs
impassive face.

тАЬYou have discovered the operation of the Unknown Potency? The secret that eluded the most learned of our shamans for over eleven
hundred years? How dare you say such a thing? YouтАЩre lying!тАЭ

тАЬI studied your own archival tablets, EminenceтАФdocuments that have lain neglected in the bowels of this citadel since the defeated
remnant of the Salka host took refuge in these forsaken isles. The work was very difficult, even though I am fairly fluent in your
language. But I persevered. I succeeded. And now I propose to share my hard-won knowledge of the Potency with you.тАЭ Beynor paused.
тАЬAs is only just, I ask something in return for my labors.тАЭ

тАЬNow we come to the heart of the matter!тАЭ exclaimed the Supreme Warrior, with a vicious clash of teeth. тАЬHe intends to trick us in some
fashion, as the wretch Rothbannon did! KalawnnтАФexplain how this miscreant was able to pry into our sacred archives. How long have
you been aware of this alleged discovery?тАЭ