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

into the shadows.

Book I

White-ringed ships. Hope lies across the Plains of Dust.

Tanis Half-Elven sat in the meeting of the Council of Highseekers and listened,
frowning. Though officially the false religion of the Seekers was now dead, the
group that made up the political leadership of the eight hundred refugees from
Fax Tharkas was still called that.

"It isn't that we're not grateful to the dwarves for allowing us to live here;"
stated Hederick expansively, waving his scarred hand. "We are all grateful, I'm
certain. Just as we're grateful to those whose heroism in recovering the Hammer
of Kharas made our move here possible:" Hederick bowed to Tanis, who returned
the bow with a brief nod of his head. "But we are not dwarves!"

This emphatic statement brought murmurs of approval, causing Hederick to warm to
his audience.

"We humans were never meant to live underground!" Loud calls of approval and
some clapping of hands.

"We are farmers. We cannot grow food on the side of a mountain! We want lands
like the ones we were forced to leave behind. And I say that those who forced us
to leave our old homeland should provide us with new!"

"Does he mean the Dragon Highlords?" Sturm whispered sarcastically to Tanis.
"I'm certain they'd be happy to oblige:'

"The fools ought to be thankful they're alive!" Tanis muttered. "Look at them,
turning to Elistan-as if it were his doing!"

The cleric of Paladine-and leader of the refugees-rose to his feet to answer
Hederick.

"It is because we need new homes;' Elistan said, his strong baritone resounding
through the cavern, "that I propose we send a delegation south, to the city of
Tarsis the Beautiful:"

Tanis had heard Elistan's plan before. His mind wandered over the month since he
and his companions had returned from Derkin's Tomb with the sacred Hammer.
The dwarven Thanes, now consolidated under the leadership of Hornfel, were
preparing to battle the evil coming from the north. The dwarves did not greatly
fear this evil. Their mountain kingdom seemed impregnable. And they had kept the
promise they made Tanis in return for the Hammer: the refugees from Pax Tharkas
could settle in Southgate, the southernmost part of the mountain kingdom of
Thorbardin.

Elistan brought the refugees to Thorbardin. They began trying to rebuild their