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

small, dead branches. A weak bit of light cut into the hollow tree through
the open door as Kith-Kanan arranged the dry sticks in a cone over a heap
of bark and shavings he had whittled off with his dagger. He took out his
flint and striker from the pouch at his waist. Leaning on his knees on the
stone hearth, he nicked the flint against the roughened iron striker. Sparks
fell on the tinder, and he blew gently on them. In a few minutes he had a
weak flicker of flame and not long after that, a crackling fire.
тАЬWell, boy, what do you think of that?" the prince asked Mackeli.
Instead of being impressed, Mackeli shook his head. "Ny's not going
to like this.тАЭ
Lightened by the fire, the interior of the hollow tree was finally
visible to Kith-Kanan. The room was quite large, five paces wide, and a
ladder led up through a hole to the upper branches and the outside of the
tree. Smoke from the fire also went out through this hole. The walls were
decorated with the skulls of animalsяГзrabbit, squirrel, a fierce-looking
boar with upthrust tusks, a magnificent eight-point buck, plus a host of
bird skulls Kith-Kanan could not identify. Mackeli explained that
whenever Ny killed an animal not killed before, the skull was cleaned and
mounted on a peg on the wall. That way the spirit of the dead beast was
propitiated and the god of the forest, the Blue Phoenix, would grant
success to future hunts.
"Which of these did you kill?тАЭ Kith-Kanan asked.
тАЬIt is not permitted for me to shed the blood of animals. ThatтАЩs Ny's
work.тАЭ The elf boy slipped back his hood. тАЬI talk to the animals and listen
to what they say. I do not shed their blood.тАЭ
Kith-Kanan sat down on a pallet filled with moss. He was weary and
dirty and very hungry. Mackeli fidgeted about, giving the prince frequent
looks of displeasure. Eventually, Kith-Kanan asked Mackeli what was
wrong.
тАЬThatтАЩs NyтАЩs place. You must not sit there,тАЭ the boy said irritatedly.
Kith-Kanan heaved himself off. тАЬThis Ny has more privileges than the
Speaker of the Stars,тАЭ he said, exasperation clearing his voice. "May I sit
here?" He indicated the floor of the hollow tree, which was covered with
pine needles. Mackeli nodded.
Soon after that exchange, Kith-Kanan asked for something to eat. The
elf boy scampered up the ladder and, leaning out to the center of the
hollow space, pushed aside various gourds and skin bags that hung by
thongs from the ceiling. He found the one he wanted and brought it down.
Sitting cross-legged beside Kith-Kanan, Mackeli bade the prince hold out
his hands. He did, and the boy filled them with roasted wild chestnuts,
neatly peeled.
"Do you have any meat?тАЭ Kith-Kanan asked.
тАЬOnly Ny eats meat.тАЭ
The prince was getting tired of the litany of things only Ny could do.
Too tired, in fact, to dispute with the boy, Kith-Kanan ate chestnuts in
silence. He was grateful for whatever he could get.
тАЬDo you know," he said at last, "you've never asked me my name?"
Mackeli shrugged. тАЬI didn't think you had one."
"Of course I have a name!" The elf boy rubbed his nose, getting
yellow paint on his fingers. тАЬMy name is Kith," the prince said, since