"Janet Morris - Beyond Wizardwall" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morris Janet E)

stay on as Tempus's staff adept, to ask no questions and trust his commander to turn things aright.
But without Niko, it wouldn't be easy.
*2*
Randal would never forget the way Critias looked past Niko, as if he didn't exist, when the Stepson
submitted his resignation.
Critias, Tempus's intelligence officer, had no right to judge Niko: he didn't understand Niko's problems,
didn't care about anything but himself. The Stepsons were a cold lot, clinging to their barbaric honor
code in lieu of anything more stringent.
Sour-eyed, Crit had scrawled out release forms for Niko and slapped them down upon his desk: "Come
on, hurry up, citizen. I've got better things to do than waste my time with you."


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Stealth hadn't batted an eye, just signed what Crit put before him. Randal wanted to give Crit a piece of
his mind, but his krisтАФa magical sword given to the mage by AтАвkelon, lord of dreamsтАФ rattled in its
scabbard on Randal's hip as if it were ready to jump out and skewer Critias of its own accord. And since
the kris was capable of doing just that, Randal had to hold it firmly and keep his temper well in check:
his kris couldn't distinguish between real enemies and perceived ones; it was probably just reacting to
Randal's confused emotions.
As they were leaving, Straton, Critias's right-side partner and the Stepsons' chief interrogator, came in.
Strat, a man as large as Tempus, gave Niko an offhanded salute, disregarding Randal as Strat always
did when he could.
Niko just nodded to Straton, who frowned and said, "When are you going to quit fuddling your wits
with krrf, Stealth? You can't even manage a civilтАФ"
"Civilians don't salute Stepsons. They're polite and they know their placeтАФsomewhere else," Crit said.
"What's this? Another covert operation? Last time Niko played 'civilian," his partner died of the game. I
тАФ"
"No game this time, Strat." Niko's voice was soft and slurred from drugs or distress. "My mare stays
here till the foal is weaned. I'd like your word that you'll see to herтАФI'll make it worth your while."
Strat's wide forehead furrowed; he looked from Crit, to Niko, to Randal. Then his big hands lashed out,
catching Randal by the tunic and lifting him off the ground: "This is your doing, you droolbucket, you
slimy prestidigitator. Couldn't stand it that Stealth wasтАФ"
"Strat!" Crit said. "It's too late for that." "Put him down, Straton," Niko warned, "or you won't be able to
lift your skirts hereafter." Niko's tone, flat and promissory without a hint of feeling, made Straton turn
his head.
Then Randal's feet touched the floor and he could speak. "And don't you forget it, you lumberingтАФ"
"Randal! I don't need any help from you with this." Niko's sunken eyes swept over him and Randal
flushed.
Regarding Crit steadily, Niko said, "Let's be polite, ex-task force leader, now and in the future.
Someone might get hurt, otherwise."
"Stealth," Straton said, "this is madness. What are you going to do? Deal drugs from Brother Bomba's?
Play martyr with Bashir's guerrillas when the snow melts and the Mygdonians attack again?" Niko, still
looking at Crit, said, "Something like that. It doesn't matter. Randal, get out of here. Go back to your
mageguild and spin your globe. I'll be in touch."

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