"Masquerade Cycle - 02 - Nemesis" - читать интересную книгу автора (McGough Scott)

NEMESIS


MASQUERADE CYCLE Х BOOK II

Paul B. Thompson

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Paul B.Thompson

OVERTURE


LENS

The ever-gray sky of Rath darkened from pearl to slate
before the agent moved. He'd spent a day and a night in his
hiding place, molded into a crevice between two large
trees. His hooded shroud took on the color and texture of
bark, and the special unguent on his hands and face had
the same mimetic properties. While he was hidden, elves of
the village had passed within arm's length of him. He could
have struck them down with impunity, but such were not
his orders. He had a specific target, and his new masters did
not tolerate deviation. As shadows lengthened in the
Skyshroud Forest, the agent stirred his stiff, aching limbs.
His legs burned with the sensation of a thousand needles
pricking his skin, but with his altered senses he was able to
block out the discomfort, just as he disregarded any feelings
of hunger, fear, or remorse.

Villagers went about their evening tasks. Greenish light
from their foxfire lamps filtered down, and for a moment
the agent froze, startled by his own faint shadow on the
black water beneath the trees. He craned his hooded head
and saw the tree dwellers pass unconcernedly over him,
scaling their vine ladders and bridges with practiced ease.

The large tree house in the center of the settlement was
his target. The village had been denuded of warriors by the
recent attack on the Stronghold, but a lone elderly elf in

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Nemesis

snakeskin armor leaned against the doorway of the target's