"Andre Norton & Lackey, Mercedes - Elvenbane 1 -The Elvenbane" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

production of a suitable heir. And then they were left to their own devices, to
amuse themselves however they could. Lesser members of the Clan tended
to trade, production, and the manor. Wives, unless they carved themselves a
position, had nothing more to do than look appropriately ornamental and
produce one child. More, if they could, but one was enough. After that--
some lost themselves in endless games of chance, some in pretense at art or
music, others in a never-ending round of costume creation--and no few in
the privacy of their quarters, in the arms of carefully selected human slaves.
This was the part Alara was playing: a Clan daughter, attractive, virginal,
with enough magic to cast minor glamories, and no ambition.

No ambition in the fields of power, that is; to pique Rathekrel's interest, she
pretended at an ambition in art--or rather, Arte. She had styled herself not an
artist, but an Artiste. Rathekrel considered himself something of a
connoisseur, and the credentials she had presented had included some of "her
Work."

As she reached the end of the hall, another set of silver-inlaid, white-
lacquered doors swung open before she could touch them, and she stepped
forward and paused on the lintel of the cavernous dining hall. The hall had
not been behind those doors the last time Alara had passed them; that was a
measure of Rathekrel's strength in magic. Special corridors such as the one
she had just used opened onto whatever Rathekrel chose; they were, in fact,
tiny Gates that could be reset at his whim.

Alara had read something of this in the minds of the humans that had served
her, though thanks to the inhibiting collars they wore, she could get only
fleeting glimpses, and then only when they actually touched her. The humans
were terrified of these corridors and would never use them. As they came
and went from her guest suite, Alara had made note of every "normal"
passage built for their use, and where each one went. She was going to need
that information for the second part of her plan.

The dining hall was another place that terrified the humans, and with good
reason.

It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness beyond the double
doors. She waited on the threshold once she was able to see--

That was odd. She thought it smelled like--a storm. And a sea-wind--

She blinked in surprise at what lay below her.

My, my, she thought. Lord Rathekrel was certainly out to impress the
child...

Hundreds of yards beneath her feet, breakers foamed and roared over savage
rocks, while above her a clear night sky held more stars than ever appeared
over this world. Three moons sailed serenely overhead, flooding the sea
below with pure silver light. Spray flumed up, creating gossamer veils of