"Recluce - 07 - The Chaos Balance" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

lifted the goblet and sipped the wine. "The angels destroyed them to the
last man, despite Hissl's wizardry. The angels had a black mage. I
suppose they still do."
аа "He was the one who used the fires of Heaven ..." Zeldyan broke off
the sentence, and looked down at the table. "Just like Sillek, he
probably didn't have any choice. If he hadn't killed ... he would have
died."
аа "You don't hate him?" asked Gethen.
аа "Why? You know who I hate." Zeldyan toyed with her goblet, then set it
down without drinking. "Hissl did not lead the first expedition, the one
after Relyn's, I mean. The leader was a big man from the Roof of the
World."
аа "That seems strange, if true. Why do you mention that?"
аа "For Nesslek's sake, I have to think. I cannot be bound by old hates
or tradition." The blonde took another small sip of wine. "I doubt that
there is a single land where everyone is happy. People come to Lornth
from Jerans, or go from here to Westwind or Suthya."
аа "As far as I can see, only women go to Westwind." Gethen refilled his
goblet.
аа "Once they came to Lornth from Cyador, those who weren't slaughtered .
. . according to the old tales."
а а "You still raise the disturbing questions, daughter, after all these
years."
аа "I cannot be who I am not. That, too, is a form of... honor. I learned
that from Sillek."
аа Gethen waited.
аа "What do we know of Westwind, really know?" asked Zeldyan. "Except
that they destroyed two armies?"
аа "Not much," agreed Gethen.
аа "I think we should be alert to learn what we can. Perhaps the dark
angels might have something we can use."
аа "Against Cyador? You were certain that it would come to battle when we
discussed this before." Gethen took another sip of the wine.
аа "Unless matters change," she said. "Fornal would fight. If he thinks
he must fight, he will want to fight immediately."
аа "Sometimes that view is correct."
аа "Sometimes," said Zeldyan without agreeing. "I would rather avoid
battles."
аа "One cannot always do that. Sillek hated battles, but he was right to
take the fight to Ildyrom."
аа "So long as he had Koric and a wizard to leave in Clynya. Now what
will we do-add to the armsmen there?" The blonde lifted a small handful
of nuts from the dish on the table. "I suppose we must. Fornal has
fortified Rulyarth, and the people there would not submit to Suthya now.
Our tribute to Westwind keeps the east safe. If Cyador brings trouble, we
will need forces in the south anyway."
аа "You just said you would avoid battle. What do you seek from the dark
ones?" Gethen laughed.
аа "Do you disagree that battles are costly?" Zeldyan turned toward the
window as the roll of thunder rumbled across Lornth, heralding more