"Dark Elves - 03 - Salvation" - читать интересную книгу автора (Mykles Jet)

It was called the vetiese, and it was the raedjourТs direct connection to their goddess,
Rhae. By stepping through the opening, a raedjour entered a place where it was possible to
commune with Rhae. A man who thought to better himself, prove himself, or who had no
other reason for living might pass over the threshold of this portal and let Her judge him. It
was not a decision taken lightly. Even a portion of the realm of the gods was not safe. On
average, only three out of every five men ever reemerged. Of those who did, none returned
exactly the same as they had entered. Some men would enter only to emerge twice as large
and twice as thick in muscles, but without a sex drive. Such men became the guards for the
women and took their tasks seriously. It was thought that this was a punishment, but the
guards rarely spoke of it afterward and didnТt seem unhappy. Most who entered and emerged
came back with white designs etched in their skin. Although the designs could usually be
interpreted by others, the men themselves always knew what they meant. They would
emerge and announce what Rhae had chosen for them. The rhaeja, as Her chosen, would
confirm it. Of all the raedjour, only the rhaeja and the most powerful of the sorcerers
typically re-entered the vetriese. And if they did, there was always a valid reason. Not even
they knew if She would allow them to return.

Salin had gone into the void and emerged a warrior, justifying to Nalfien his choice not
to become a sorcerer. Hyle entered at a premature age and emerged as the youngest sorcerer
in raedjour history. Radin entered to emerge with both the marks of a sorcerer and that of a
wanderer, RhaeТs acknowledgement that he could not be tied to the confines of the city. The
rhaeja entered the portal time and time again, and each time emerged with another marking
to symbolize his connection to Rhae.

Valanth stood after a silent moment. УIt was GilbranТs choice, but I will miss him.Ф

Savous lowered his head, allowing his hair to fall forward and obscure his doubtful
look. Gilbran had not been happy or even content. Marked as a sorcerer and at the right


hand of the rhaeja, by rights Gilbran should have reveled in the prime of his life. Instead,
Savous had seen his talented brother atrophy. Since emerging from the vetriese as a sorcerer,
he had been attached to ValanthТs hip alongside Betaf. In over two hundred cycles of seasons,
Savous couldnТt recall seeing Gilbran without either Valanth or Betaf close at hand. Savous
had watched from afar as his brother grew silent and withdrawn and finally became a
complete recluse. On the few times he had made the effort to try and speak with Gilbran,
Savous had the distinct impression that his brother desperately wanted to tell him
something, but was somehow prevented from doing so. It had made their few conversations
strained and ruined what had been a good relationship, even if it hadnТt been a bosom
friendship. Savous suspected his brother had re-entered the vetriese to ask Rhae to remove
their fatherТs mark, although he didnТt know it from GilbranТs own words. The removal of a
mark had never happened in the past, but it stood to reason that if Rhae could create the
marks, she could also remove them.

Savous glanced toward the cavern entrance to where his last remaining brother stood
sentry. Vikart was not a sorcerer, unlike Savous and their six other brothers. HeТd been born
with some of the gift -- evidenced by the dark red eyes he had been born with -- but it was
not enough to be that of a true sorcerer. Vikart had entered the vetriese over a hundred
cycles ago. HeТd emerged with a guardТs bulky, muscular build and black eyes. Savous