"Paul Thompson - [Elven Nations Trilogy 2] - The Kinslaye" - читать интересную книгу автора (Thompson Paul B)

peopleтАУrecognize that the human threat extends beyond mere grazing rights on the
plains!"
"There is no evidence of a threat to our interests."
"No threat?" The elf cut him off rudely. "You know humans, they will stretch and
grab whatever they can. They will seize our plains, your mountains, the forestтАУ-
everything!"
Than-Kar regarded him coolly, those wide, staring eyes seeming to gleam with
delight. Abruptly Sithas realized that he was wasting his time with this arrogant Theiwar.
Angrily he stood, half fearing that he would strike out at the dwarf and very much
desiring to do just that. Still, enough of his dignity and self-control remained to stay his
hand. After all, a war with the dwarves was the last thing they needed right now.
"This conference is concluded," he said stiffly.
Than-Kar noddedтАУsmugly, Sithas thoughtтАУand turned to lead his escort from the hall.
Sithas stared after the dwarven ambassador, his anger still seething. He would notтАУhe
could notтАУallow this to be the final impasse!
But what else could he do? No ideas arrived to lighten the oppressive burden of his
mood.
2
Spring, 2214 (PC)
The horse pranced nervously along the ridgetop, staying within the protective foliage
of the tree line. Thick, bluegreen pines enclosed the mount and its elven rider on three
sides. Finally the great stallion Kijo stood still, allowing Kith-Kanan to peer through the
moist, aromatic branches to the vast expanse of open country beyond.
Nearby, two of the WildrunnersтАУKith's personal bodyguardsтАУsat alertly in their
saddles, swords drawn and eyes alert. Those elves, too, were nervous at the sight of their
leader possibly exposing himself to the threat in the valley below.
And what a threat it was! The long column of the human army snaked into the
distance as far as the keen-eyed elves could see from their vantage on the ridgetop. The
vanguard of the army, a company of heavily armored lancers riding huge, lumbering
war-horses, had already passed them by.
Now ranks of spearmen, thousands upon thousands, marched past, perhaps a mile
away down the gradually sloping ridge. This was the central wing of the massive Army
of Ergoth, which followed the most direct route toward Sithelbec and presented the most
immediate threat to the Wildrunners. Kith-Kanan turned with a grim smile, and Kijo
pranced into the deeper shelter of the forest.
The commander of the Wildrunners knew his force was ready for this, the opening
battle of his nation's first war in over four centuries. Not since the Second Dragon War
had the elves of the House Protectorate taken to the field to defend their nation against an
external threat.
The ring on his fingerтАУthe Ring of BaliforтАУhad been given to his father as a reminder
of the alliance between kender and elves during the Second Dragon War. Now he wore it
and prepared to do battle in a new cause. For a moment, he wondered what this war
would be named when Astinus took up his pen to scribe the tale in his great annals.
Though Kith-Kanan was young for an elfтАУhe had been born a mere ninety-three
years agoтАУhe felt the weight of long tradition riding in the saddle with him. He knew no
compelling hatred toward these humans, yet he recognized the threat they presented. If
they weren't stopped here, half of Silvanesti would be gobbled up by the rapacious human
settlers, and the elves would be driven into a small corner of their once vast holdings.
The humans had to be defeated. It was Kith-Kanan's job, as commander of the
Wildrunners, to see that the elven nation was victorious.