"Dan Parkinson - Dwarven Nations 02 - Hammer and Axe" - читать интересную книгу автора (Parkinson Dan)

by a huge mechanism that forced it in and out of the mountain. At least forty
feet thick in its center, the gate was as indestructible as any known on Krynn,
except for the one matching it in the north. Once shut, they could not be
distinguished from the faces of the mountain, such was the craftsmanship of the
ancient dwarvenmasons.

Yet, since the arrival of the humans at Southgate, torches had been set about
the opening, allowing the men, women, and children access to the outside air-a
human need that seemed an unaccountable weakness to the subterranean dwarves.

As Tanis stood there, staring into the woods beyond the meadow and finding no
peace in their quiet beauty, Sturm, Elistan, and Laurana joined him. The three
had been talkingobviously of him-and fell into an uncomfortable silence.

"How solemn you are;" Laurana said to Tanis softly, coming near and putting her
hand on his arm. "You believe Raistlin is right, don't you, Tanthal-Tanis?"
Laurana blushed. His human name still came clumsily to her lips, yet she knew
him well enough now to understand that his elven name only brought him pain.

Tanis looked down at the small, slender hand on his arm and gently put his own
over it. Only a few months earlier the touch would have irritated him, causing
confusion and guilt as he wrestled with the love for a human woman against what
he told himself was a childhood infatuation with this elfmaiden. But now the
touch of Laurana's hand filled him wit,, warmth and peace, even as it stirred
his blood. He pondered these new, disturbing feelings as he responded to her
question.

"I have long found Raistlin's advice sound;' he said, knowing how this would
upset them. Sure enough, Sturm's face darkened. Elistan frowned. "And I think he
is right this time. We have won a battle, but we are a long way from winning the
war. We know it is being fought far north, in Solamnia. I think we may safely
assume that it is not for the conquest of Abanasinia alone that the forces of
darkness are fighting:"

"But you are only speculating!" Elistan argued. "Do not let the darkness that
hangs around the young wage cloud your thinking. He may be right, but that is no
reason to give up hope, to give up trying! Tarsis is a large seaport city-at
least according to all we know of it. There we'll find those who can tell us if
the war encompasses the world. If so, then surely there still must be havens
where we can find peace:'

"Listen to Elistan, Tanis," Laurana said gently. "He is wise. When our people
left Qualinesti, they did not flee blindly. They traveled to a peaceful haven.
My father had a plan, though he dared not reveal it-"

Laurana broke off, startled to- see the effect of her speech. Abruptly Tanis
snatched his arm from her touch and turned his gaze on Elistan, his eyes filled
with anger.

"Raistlin says hope is the denial of reality;" Tanis stated coldly. Then, seeing