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

half-elf felt enclosed, trapped.

"I'll be glad when this is over;" he muttered to Sturm, standing next to him.

Sturm, always melancholy, seemed even darker and more brooding than usual. "I
don't approve of this, Tanis," he muttered, folding his arms across the bright
metal of his antique breastplate.

"I know;" said Tanis irritably. "You've said it-not once, but several times.
It's too late now. There's nothing to be done but make the best of it:"

The end of his sentence was lost in another resounding cheer as Elistan raised
the Hammer above his head, showing it to the crowd before beginning the walk
down the aisle. Tanis put his hand on his forehead. He was growing dizzy as the
cool underground cavern heated up from the mass of bodies.

Elistan started to walk down the aisle. Rising to greet him on a dais in the
center of the Hall was Hornfel, Thane of the Hylar dwarves. Spaced behind the
dwarf were seven carved stone thrones, all of them now empty. Hornfel stood
before the seventh throne-the most magnificent, the throne for the King of
Thorbardin. Lang empty, it would be occupied once more, as Hornfel accepted the
Hammer of Kharas. The return of this ancient relic was a singular triumph for
Hornfel. Since his thanedom was now in possession of the coveted Hammer, he
could unite the rival dwarven thanes under his leadership.
" We fought to recover that Hammer;' Sturm said slowly, his eyes upon the
gleaming weapon. "The legendary Hammer of Kharas. Used to forge the
dragonlances. Lost for hundreds of years, found again, and lost once more. And
now given to the dwarvesl" he said in disgust.

"It was given to the dwarves once before;' Tanis reminded him wearily, feeling
sweat trickle down his forehead. "Have Flint tell you the tale, if you've
forgotten. At any rate, it is truly theirs now."

Elistan had arrived at the foot of the stone dais where the Thane, dressed in
the heavy robes and massive gold chains dwarves loved, awaited him. Elistan
knelt at the foot of the dais, a politic gesture, for otherwise the tall,
muscular cleric would stand face-to-face with the dwarf, despite the fact that
the dais was a good three feet off the ground. The dwarves cheered mightily at
this. The humans were, Tanis noticed, more subdued, some muttering among
themselves, not liking the sight of their leader abasing himself:.

"Accept this gift of our people-" Elistan's words were lost in another cheer
from the dwarves.

"Gift!" Sturm snorted. "Ransom is nearer the mark."

"In return for which;" Elistan continued when he could be heard, "we thank the
dwarves for their generous gift of a place to live within their kingdom:'

"For the right to be sealed in a tomb . . :' Sturm muttered.