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

previous autumn.
аа Plick!
аа His own door opened, and Nylan glanced through the darkness, not that
it hampered his view. The strange underjump that had translated the
Winterlance to whatever world they had found-like all worlds, the natives
merely called it "the world" or "the earth"-the underjump that had turned
his hair living silver had also given him night vision that was nearly as
good as his day vision.
аа Plick!
аа The figure that slipped into his room did not have Ayrlyn's flame-red
hair, but silver hair.
аа "Istril?" he whispered, half sitting up.
аа Her finger touched his lips and her lips whispered in his ear. "Just
tonight. I talked with the healer, and we agreed." There was a pause.
"Unlike some, Nylan, I wouldn't deceive you."
аа "But-"
аа "I want a daughter, and I want you to be her father. This is one of my
visions."
аа Before he could protest again, the slight and wiry figure eased out of
the robe she had worn and under the thin blanket, her skin smooth and
warm against his-except for very cold feet.
аа "Your feet-"
аа "They're cold, but don't make fun of me. This is hard .. ." Istril
shivered, and buried her head in his shoulder for a moment.
аа Nylan could feel the dampness of her cheeks on his bare skin. He eased
his arms around her, even as he wondered. Ayrlyn? Istril would not have
lied, not for anything.
аа Ayrlyn? Why would she have agreed?
аа He stroked Istril's silver hair for a long time before he kissed her,
gently, before her lips trembled under his, before he chose not to resist
what had been offered.
а
а
X
а
LEPHI GAZED OUT across the polished white tiles of the Great Hall of Cyad
and stifled a yawn. Just below the oversized malachite and silver throne,
to the Lord of Cyador's right, stood the white wizard Themphi. Farther
below and to the left loomed Duhru, the Voice of His Mightiness.
аа "We might as well get this facade over with," muttered the Lord of
Cyador. "Announce the receiving of petitions."
аа "His Mightiness Lephi the White, Lord of Cyador, ruler of all lands
from the mountains of the skies to the oceans of the west, Protector of
the Steps to Paradise, Son of the Rational Stars, stands ready to receive
the petitions of his people. Those with worthy petitions, draw near with
good conscience." Duhru's voice boomed across the great hall, and the
three-story-high gilded doors in the rear of the hall slid open nearly
silently, the hiss of steam merely a whisper lost in the vastness of the
chamber.
аа Three figures slowly marched across the white tiles and stood on the