"Kristine Kathryn Rusch - Black Throne 01 - The Black Queen" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rusch Kristine Kathryn)

A single ray of light beamed down from the ceiling, encircling him. He took a large step
forward, testing it, and the light moved.
тАЬWhat is this place?тАЭ he asked.
тАЬGo farther,тАЭ she said.
His palms were damp. He had to remember to take a breath. The blackness drew him
deeper. He took another step forward, and then another. The blackness coalesced into a
form, into something he could recognize.
A throne.
The Black Throne.
It really existed.
тАЬBy the Powers,тАЭ he whispered. He had never seen anything so magnificent.
The Throne was large enough to seat three full-grown Fey. Its back rose up the wall so
high that if Gift stood on the seat, he would have to reach up to touch the top. Its seat,
though, was in the normal place, and looked comfortable. Very comfortable.
It looked as if it were made for him.
He made himself stand still. He couldnтАЩt move backward, but he wouldnтАЩt let himself
move forward either. His sister sat on the Black Throne, at least metaphorically. She was
the one who ruled the Fey, not he. He had no right to be here.
тАЬWhat is the point of this?тАЭ he asked.
тАЬThe Black Heir is supposed to sit in the Black Throne.тАЭ
He was shaking. тАЬYou felt you needed to tempt me? Why?тАЭ
тАЬGo closer.тАЭ
тАЬIтАЩm close enough, thank you.тАЭ
тАЬIt is your Throne,тАЭ Madot said.
тАЬIt is my sisterтАЩs Throne.тАЭ
тАЬShe has not sat in it.тАЭ
тАЬShe didnтАЩt even know it existed. Neither did I.тАЭ
Madot stood by his side. тАЬWhich is why every Black ruler has a Shaman. The Shaman
takes the ruler to the Black Throne. Once the Fey ruled from here, but since we have
expanded our Empire, this room is largely symbolic.тАЭ
тАЬMy great-grandfather was here?тАЭ
тАЬRugad sat in that chair,тАЭ Madot said. тАЬI watched him. It frightened him, as it frightens
you.тАЭ
Gift remembered his great-grandfather. Nothing seemed to frighten that man. тАЬI am
not frightened,тАЭ Gift said, not sure if he was lying. тАЬI just donтАЩt understand why you need
to tempt me now.тАЭ
тАЬThe Warning,тАЭ she said.
тАЬRepeat it to me.тАЭ He heard command in his voice. He had tried to purge command
from his entire system, but it kept reappearing.
He had to leave.
She said, тАЬ тАШThe hand that holds the scepter shall hold it no more, and the man behind
the Throne shall reveal himself in all his glory.тАЩтАЭ
тАЬAnd you believe that I am the man behind the Throne?тАЭ he asked.
тАЬYour sister will leave the Black Throne. So the Warning says.тАЭ
тАЬIt says nothing about the Black Throne. It could refer to Blue Isle.тАЭ
тАЬBlue Isle is a small place compared to the Fey Empire.тАЭ
тАЬBlue Isle has a Place of Power. It may be small in land, but it is large in the history of
the world.тАЭ
тАЬStill,тАЭ Madot said. тАЬYour sister sits on Blue IsleтАЩs throne, too, does she not?тАЭ
тАЬI have never been behind her. I am not even an advisor any longer.тАЭ