"Ringo, John - Council Wars 1 - There Will Be Dragons" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ringo John)

workshop. The grinding wheel was foot powered, the forge at the end was pumped
with hand bellows, the barrels that held sword blanks and bar steel were of
local oak and the materials were all natural with the appearance of having been
handmade. The sun was setting, leaving the shop in a chiaroscuro of shadows and
golden light, but the sole lighting source was a glass-shaded tallow dip.
Edmund himself was dressed in trews and a rumpled tunic that, with the exception
of the cosilk material and extraordinary fineness of the weave, would have
blended well in any medieval Ropasan setting from the fall of Rome to the
Renaissance. With his callused hands, massive forearms, graying hair and beard
and heavy-set physique, he could have been mistaken for a medieval master smith.
Or, perhaps, a lord with a hobby.
Which was the whole point.
The sole exception to the period garb was a pair of thin-rimmed glasses that he
now pushed down his nose to look at the butler.
"Who is it?" he asked.
"Mistress Daneh, my lord," the projection replied. "Shall I show her in?"
"By all means," Talbot replied, taking off his glasses and standing up.
It took only a moment for the projection and the avatar to return. The avatar
could have simply appeared, but that would not have given the impression of
being shown into the room. Since the entire teleport program was managed by the
Net, which theoretically could send anyone, anywhere, protocols were in place to
prevent unauthorized entry. Persons who were not specifically given access to a
home had to translate to outside of the dwelling, and noncorporeal beings,
projections, avatars and persons who had been Transferred into nannite clouds,
could not simply enter a home without prior permission. Technically, Daneh
Ghorbani's avatar could have translated directly to his location. But Edmund's
friends and relations, who had such permission, were well aware of his
peculiarities and always asked permission.
"Edmund," the avatar said.
Talbot paused for a moment drinking in the sight of his former lover. Avatars by
default simulated the current appearance of their host. This was not always the
case but Daneh would not have adjusted it if she was using her real name. Thus
it appeared that physically she had hardly changed. Her hair was a tad redder
and showing some blond highlights, probably from sun. By the same token her skin
was a bit more tanned. But other than that she was identical to when they had
been together. She lookedЕ well.
While he could feel himself getting older day by day.
"Mistress Daneh," he replied with a slight bow. "To what do I owe the honor?"
"Someone's spamming you as an avatar," the avatar replied in an acid tone. "I
don't suppose you gave the Wolf 359 Terraforming Project permission."
"I don't think so," Talbot replied with a snort. "Sorry about that; I'll try to
get to the bottom of it. Avatar, I don't suppose you have any details?"
"Mistress Daneh did not ask me to gather any," the avatar replied in a toneless
voice.
"Very well. Are you keeping well?"
"Mistress Daneh is fine and I will convey that you asked about her."
"And Rachel? She is well also?"
"Miss Rachel is well. She is currently energy surfing off Fiji."
"Well, tell Daneh my door is always open to her and give Rachel my love. Tell
her I look forward to her visit next month."