"Stan Nicholls - The Dreamtime 03 - The Diamond Isle" - читать интересную книгу автора (Nicholls Stan)

Caldason befriends orphan Kutch Pirathon, a young sorcererтАЩs apprentice shocked by ReethтАЩs antipathy
towards the magic his culture sees as perfectly normal. The pair encounter radical politician Dulian Karr,
who proves to be one of the leading lights in the Resistance. Karr suggests that Covenant, an outlaw
order of unlicensed magicians, might have the knowledge to lift the ills plaguing Caldason. His offer to put
him in touch with Covenant leads to Reeth and Kutch ultimately joining with the insurgents.
Serrah Ardacris, employed by the notorious Council for Internal Security, captains what is essentially a
government death squad targeting bandit gangs in Gath TampoorтАЩs capital. When the reckless son of an
important official dies on her watch, Serrah is blamed and pressured to confess. And her superiors are
not above using the pain of the loss of SerrahтАЩs daughter, Eithne, to get what they want. Eithne died at
just fifteen from an overdose of ramp, a powerful, illegal narcotic. On the point of breaking, Serrah is
rescued by a Resistance cell, and manages to escape to Bhealfa.

For all their might, the empires do not rule quite everywhere. The barbarous northern wastes are largely
untouched by them. A dominion of savagery and tribal leaders, the wastes have recently thrown up a
particularly powerful warlord. Zerreiss, known to his followers as the Man Who Fell From the Sun,
possesses a strange power that aids his conquest of increasing tracts of land.

Qalochian Tanalvah Lahn, a state-certified prostitute, has worked in the brothels of Rintarah all her life.
But when defending herself against a client who murdered her best friend, Tanalvah unwittingly kills the
man. Fearing retribution, she gathers her friendтАЩs two young children and flees to Bhealfa. Once there,
they are aided by pacifist Kinsel Rukanis, a celebrated classical singer who supports the Resistance.
They in turn meet Serrah, who defends them against government agents, killing several in the process.
Kinsel introduces Tanalvah and Serrah to the Resistance.

Reeth Caldason, Kutch Pirathon and Dulian Karr make contact with Phoenix, the head of Covenant,
who uses a fragment of Founder knowledge to change his appearance at will. They also meet Quinn
Disgleirio, of the Fellowship of the Righteous Blade, a long-moribund martial order that has been revived
to fight for BhealfaтАЩs independence.

The Resistance, Covenant and the Blade Fellowship form the United Revolutionary Council. Karr reveals
that the CouncilтАЩs aim is the establishment of a free state.

Caldason is found to be partially immortal, and his ageing process has been greatly slowed down. He has
no idea why he should be in this condition. Covenant believes that the Founders left a hoard of
knowledge called the Source. No one knows what form the Source takes, but itтАЩs traditionally associated
with the legend of the Clepsydra, said to be a device for marking off the eons to the Day of Destruction.

The Source could provide the Resistance with a powerful weapon against the empires, and Caldason
with a cure. He determines to find it, but is constantly frustrated by events.

Kutch also has a strange, unsuspected attribute. He possesses the incredibly rare spotter talent. Spotters
can look beyond the falsity of magic and distinguish illusion from reality. Phoenix offers to coach the boy
in the proper use of the skill. But Kutch soon finds himself sharing CaldasonтАЩs terrifying visions.

Kinsel and Tanalvah become lovers, and set up house with the children. But Tanalvah worries that Kinsel
runs too many risks through his Resistance work. A concern that proves all too real when Devlor
Bastorran identifies them as Resistance fellow travellers.

Prince Melyobar plots to massacre the entire population of Bhealfa. His plan is to isolate death, and