"Michael A. Stackpole - Dragon Crown Saga 3 - When Dragons Rage" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stackpole Michael A)

WHEN DRAGONS RAGE
DragonCrown Saga 03
Michael A. Stackpole


To the memory of Austin H. Kerin
(If not for his book, IтАЩd not be a writer today.)


Acknowledgments
Anne Lesley Groell has the patience of a saint and was quite kind with me as this book
groaned along well past deadline. The errors herein are mine, and the dearth of them is all
her doing. The author would also like to thank all of those readers who made good their
promise to read some fantasy while awaiting their next BattleMech or lightsaber fix.




THE NORRINGTON PROPHECY
A Norrington to lead them,
Immortal, washed in fire
Victorious, from sea to ice.
Power of the north he will shatter,
A scourge he will kill,
Then Vorquellyn will redeem.




CHAPTER 1


A misty blue curtain descended over Princess Alexia of Okrannel, obscuring her
surroundings. Save that something felt solid beneath her feet, she would have had no way of
discerning up from down. Not that there really is any ground here тАФ or up or down .
She lifted her head and gazed forward, trying to see the mountain she knew loomed afar.
In accord with her thought, the cerulean mist swirled and parted, bleeding down and away
into low fog that tugged at the hem of her gown. In the distance she did see the
sharp-peaked mountain blotting out a wedge of starry night sky.
Though the mountaintop lay miles away, she reached it in three long-legged strides. She
smiled, for melting of both the mist and the miles were not the only changes wrought as she
moved forward. She had arrived in the mist in a simple white gown with a short cape, but by
the time she reached the mountain and the arched mouth of the cavern near its top, her
clothing had shifted to a warriorтАЩs tunic, simple trousers, and a good pair of boots.
She recognized her clothes as those she had last seen Crow wearing. This surprised her
because though she was operating in a magickal realm where her whim could shape reality,
she had not consciously chosen CrowтАЩs raiment. Either her mind was betraying her, or other
forces held a certain sway in the CommunionтАЩs domain.
Alyx glanced up at the stone arch defining the caveтАЩs mouth, and gathered her long,
white-blonde hair over her shoulder. Unconsciously plaiting it, she read, тАЬThe secrets within