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

Elistan's care-worn face regard him with sorrow, the half-elf smiled wearily. "I
apologize, Elistan. I am tired, that's all. Forgive me. 'your suggestion is
good. We'll travel to Tarsis with hope, if nothing else."

Elistan nodded and turned to leave. "Are you coming, Laurana? I know you are
tired, my dear, but we have a great deal to do before I can turn the leadership
aver to the Council in my absence."

"I'll be with you presently, Elistan;" Laurana said, flushing. "I-I want to
speak a moment with Tanis.'
Elistan gave them both an appraising, understanding look, then walked through
the darkened gateway with Sturm. Tanis began dousing the torches, preparatory-
to the closing of the gate. Laurana stood near the entrance, .her expression
growing cold as it became obvious Tanis was ignoring her.

"What is the matter with you?" she said finally. "It almost sounds as if you are
taking that Clark-sauled mage's part against Elistan, one of the best and wisest
humans I have ever met!"

"Don't judge Raistlin, Laurana;' Tanis said harshly, thrusting a torch into a
bucket of water, The light vanished with a hiss

"Things aren't always black and white, as you elves are inclined to believe. The
mage has saved our lives more than once. I have come to rely upon his thinking-
which, I admit, I find easier to rely on than blind faith!"

"You elves!" Laurana cried. "How typically human that sounds! There is more
elven in you than you care to admit, Tanthalas! You used to say you didn't wear
the beard to hide your heritage, and I believed you. But -now I'm not so
certain. I've lived around humans long enough to know how they feel about elves!
But I'm proud of my heritage. You're not! You're ashamed of it. Why? Because of
that human woman you're in love with! What's her name, Kitiara?"

"Stop it, Laurana!" Tanis shouted. Hurling down a torch to the ground, he strode
to the elven maiden standing in the doorway. "If you want to discuss
relationships, what about you and Elistan? He may be a cleric of Paladine, but
he's a man-a fact to which you can, no doubt, testify! All I hear from you;" he
mimicked her voice, " is 'Elistan is so wise; 'Ask Elistan, he'll know what to
do; 'Listen to Elistan, Tanis-' "

"How dare you accuse me of your own failings?" Laurana returned. "I love
Elistan. I reverence him. He is the wisest man I have known, and the gentlest.
He is self-sacrificing-his entire life is wrapped up in serving others. But
there is only one man I love, only one man I have ever loved-though now I am
beginning to ask myself if perhaps I haven't made a mistake! You said, in that
awful place, the Sla-Mori, that I was behaving like a little girl and I had
better grow up. Well, I have grown, Tanis Half-Elven. In these past few bitter
months, I have seen suffering and death. I have been afraid as I never knew fear
existed! I have learned to fight, and I have dealt death to my enemies. All of
that hurt me inside until I'm so numb I can't feel the pain anymore. But what