"Douglas Niles - Forgotten Realms - Moonshae 02 - Black Wizard" - читать интересную книгу автора (Niles Douglas)

A man stood before this skull, his back to the wizard. The thick robes and
cowled hood of the cleric could not conceal his immense size. Slowly, the man
turned.
"Praises to Bhaal" he chanted.
"Hail the lord of death," replied the wizard in a smooth, incongruously
pleasant voice.
"Have you acted upon my prophecy yet?" inquired the
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DOUGLAS MILES
huge man, stepping away from the altar with a reverent bow to the skull.
"Indeed, Hobarth," replied the wizard. "I am certain that Razfallow and his
team will eliminate them shortly."
"There is more to be done. The woman will not be found at Caer Corwell."
"No matterтАФI will send Razfallow to the farthest corner of the Realms if need
be."
"No!" Hobarth's voice was strong, and he stepped aggressively toward the
wizard. "I must get her myself. Bhaal desires her blood to feed his altar."
"Where is she?"
"Bhaal has shown me, and only me, where she can be found. I will go after
her."
"And why should the god desire this woman's blood to flow from his sockets?"
"Perhaps Bhaal desires the victim to be a druid. There are none closer than
Gwynneth, anymoreтАФthanks to you and your council."
Cyndre chuckled wryly. "As I recall, you and your god had a hand in the
elimination of the druids from Alaron. Now, the Ffolk of Callidyrr lack any
central spiritual guidanceтАФ they are ripe to your persuasive efforts."
"Indeed," agreed Hobarth, with a bow to the altar.
"I wish you success. The earthpower of these druids can be vexingтАФthough no
match for your own might."
"Mine is but the strength of Bhaal," said the cleric.
"Of course ... how thoughtless of me." The wizard turned away so that his
companion could not see the thin smile of amusement curling his lips. Clerics
and their idiotic faith!
"I shall leave tomorrow .. . this druid will not see the rising of the next
full moon."
"It's like they became invisible!" reported Randolph, the young captain of the
castle guard company. The bearded warrior, not yet thirty, could not keep his
voice from choking with frustration. "They disappeared into thin air!"
"We killed five," said Tristan. "How many could have escaped?"
BLACK WIZARDS
"There must have been at least two more," insisted the guard, angrily
clenching the hilt of his sword. "I found three of my men dead in the
courtyard or on the wall. One had his throat cut; the other two were stabbed
in the back."
"Quite a proficient band" Tristan muttered bitterly. "But what did they want?
Why? My father never . . ." His voice choked, and he did not continue.
The guard said nothing. He and the prince stood quietly in the shambles of the
king's study. "together they looked out the broken window into the courtyard,
watching dawn's slow arrival.
In the next room, the king's body lay upon his bed, respectfully placed there