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

liege, the High King, should be ignored."
"Of course not/' Alexei explained. "But our only evidence of threat comes from
the prophecies of this cleric of Bhaal!"
BLACK WIZARDS
"A very powerful cleric, of a very powerful god," added Doric. The woman sat
to Kryphon's left. Her face, like the others, was hidden within her hood, but
her voice was filled with cool arrogance. Her unnaturally long fingers tapped
nervously upon the tabletop.
"True. But I feel that we should, through our own methods, determine the
veracity of his claims."
"Do you think that I am a fool?" Cyndre asked. "Of course I have checked,
using far more accurate means than that wretch of a cleric can hope to employ!
For now, that clericтАФ and yes, even his 'awesome' deityтАФserve our purposes!"
If Cyndre noticed the shudders of nervousness that passed among the members of
his council he gave no indication. The master of the mages continued, as if
talking to recalcitrant children.
"The significant kings and lords of the Ffolk have been eliminated or
neutralized. The way grows clear for our liege to rule all of the Moonshaes."
"Yes, master," said Alexei quietly. "I amтАФ-"
"Silence." Cyndre's single word came like music to their ears, but bound their
lips like the ironclad order that it was.
The master gestured, and the Seven knew that the door to their chamber had
been opened. Soon they heard the whisper of soft leather boots moving down the
black corridor, and then three men entered the room, standing awkwardly at the
open end of the table.
Actually, only two of them were menтАФthe third was manlike, but stood taller
than his companions. His arms were long and his face grotesque. Nervously
licking his lips, he revealed wicked fangs.
"Well, Razfallow? What is the word from Corwell?" Cyndre's question was a
formality, and no doubt the assassin knew it. The wizard's powerful scrying
mirror had shown him the results of the mission as it had happened.
"We failed, master. The king sacrificed himself to save the prince. Then the
prince's bodyguardтАФa graduate of the Academy and former student of
mineтАФintervened. I lost five of my finestтАФ"
"This is what I think of your finest." Cyndre's voice carried no trace of
threat, but his left and right forefingers gestured
DOUGLAS NlLES
at the men standing to either side of Razfallow. Spellbound, each instantly
grabbed his throat and gasped. Choking, they staggered to their knees and then
flopped to the floor. Twist-ing in agony, their faces growing slowly black,
they died over a period of several minutes.
Razfallow watched the executions impassively. Finally, the assassin turned
toward Cyndre.
"You only live because I have further need of you," explained the wizard.
"Serve me well, and you may be granted the right to live out your miserable
life. . . ."
"What is it, teacher? Why did you call?" Robyn clasped a hand to her mouth as
she saw Genna's haggard face staring at her from the depths of her bed.
"Pain!" gasped Genna Moonsinger, collapsing into her soft quilt. Her eyes
darted past Robyn, as if she feared that some apparition might appear in the