"Paul Thompson - [Elven Nations Trilogy 1] - Firstborn" - читать интересную книгу автора (Thompson Paul B)

beams bathed the walls and floor in a thousand myriad colors. Yet Sithel
had no mind for this beauty now. Seating himself on the throne he had
occupied for two centuries, he rested his hands on the emerald arms,
allowing the coolness of the stone to penetrate and soothe his heavy heart.
A figure appeared in the monumental main doorway. "Enter," said the
speaker, He hardly spoke above a whisper, but the perfect acoustics of the
hall carried the single word clearly to the visitor.
The figure approached. He halted at the bottom of the steps leading up
to the throne platform and set a small brazier on the marble floor. Finally
the visitor bowed low and said, "You summoned me, great Speaker:' His
voice was light, with the lilt of the north country in it.
"Vedvedsica, servant of Gilean," Sithel said. "Rise."
Vedvedsica stood. Unlike the clerics, of Silvanost, who wore white
robes and a sash in the color of their patron deity, Vedvedsica wore a
belted tabard of solid gray. His god had no temple in the city, because the
gods of Neutrality were not officially tolerated by the priests who served
the gods of Good.
Vedvedsica said, "May I congratulate Your Highness on the birth of
his sons?"
Sithel nodded curtly. "It is because of them that I have called you
here," he replied. "Does your god allow you to see the future?"
"My master Gilean holds in his hands theTobril, theBook of Truth.
Sometimes he grants me glimpses of this book." From the priest's
expression it appeared this was not a practice he enjoyed.
"I will give you one hundred gold pieces," said the speaker. "Ask your
god, and tell me the fate of my sons."
Vedvedsica bowed again. He dipped a hand into the voluminous
pockets of his tabard and brought out two dried leaves, still shiny green,
but stiff and brittle. Removing the conical cover from the brazier, he
exposed hot coals and held the leaves by their stems over the dullyglowing
fire.
"Gilean, the Book! Gray Voyager! Sage of Truth, Gate of Souls! By
this fire, open my eyes and allow me to read from the book of all-truth!"
The cleric's voice was stronger now, resonating through the empty hall.
"Open the Tobril! Find for Speaker Sithel the fates of his two sons, born
this day!"
Vedvedsica laid the dry leaves on the coals. They caught fire
immediately, flames curling around them with a loud crackle. Smoke
snaked up from the brazier, thick, gray smoke that condensed as it rose.
Sithel gripped the arms of his throne and watched the smoke coil and
writhe. Vedvedsica held up his hands as if to embrace it.
Gradually the smoke formed into the wavering shape of an open
scroll. The back of the scroll faced Sithel. The front was for Vedvedsica
only. The cleric's lips moved as he read from the book that contained all
the knowledge of the gods.
In less than half a minute the leaves were totally consumed. The fire
flared three feet above the golden brazier, instantly dispelling the smoke.
In the flash of flame, the priest cried out in pain and reeled away. Sithel
leaped up from his throne as Vedvedsica collapsed in a heap.
After descending the steps from the throne platform, Sithel knelt