"Paul Thompson - [Elven Nations Trilogy 3] - The Qualines" - читать интересную книгу автора (Thompson Paul B)

carrying an object covered by a red velvet cloth. It was obviously very heavy, and he held
it firmly in both hands. Glenforth took the parcel, holding it easily. The elderly dwarf
bowed to his king and was introduced as Chancellor Gendrin Dunbarth, senior thane of
the Hylar clan.
"My lord," Kith-Kanan said, scrutinizing the chancellor, "I once knew a wise dwarf
called Dunbarth of Dunbarth. Are you by chance related to him?"
Gendrin mopped his brow with a coarse-looking handkerchief. "Yes, Highness.
Dunbarth of Dunbarth, ambassador to the court of Silvanesti, was my father," replied the
dwarf, puffing from exertion.
Kith-Kanan smiled. "I met him in Silvanost many years ago and remember him with
esteem. He was an honorable fellow."
Glenforth cleared his throat. Kith-Kanan returned his attention to the king. In loud,
ringing tones, audible to the assembled thanes and Qualinesti, the dwarf king declared,
"Great Speaker, on behalf of all the dwarves of Thorbardin, I present you with this
special tool. I know you will wield it justly, for the benefit of your people and mine."
He passed the velvet-wrapped burden to Kith-Kanan. The Speaker of the Sun
whisked the cover away, revealing a large iron hammer, wrought in traditional dwarven
style but made larger to fit the hands of an elf. The octagonal iron handle was banded
with silver, and the sides of the massive flat hammerhead were gilded.
"It is called Sunderer," Glenforth explained. "Our priests of Reorx forged it in a slow
fire, and quenched it in dragon's blood to give it a worthy temper."
"It is magnificent," Kith-Kanan said in awed tones. He turned the great hammer in
his hands. "This is the tool of a demigod, not a mortal such as I."
"Well, as long as it's good enough," the dwarf king said with a wry smile. He waved
a beringed hand, and another Hylar thane came to him. This dwarf bore one of the long
iron chisels banded with silver. He gave it to his king, then he and Gendrin Dunbarth
withdrew.
Kith-Kanan and Glenforth walked in matched step to the boulder that lay in the
center of the pass. As they proceeded with appropriate dignity, Kith-Kanan said softly,
"Will you make the announcement, or shall I?"
"This was your idea." Glenforth replied in a low voice. "You do it."
"It's a joint project, Your Highness."
"Yes, but I'm no speechifier," said the dwarf. They stood by the boulder. "Besides,
everyone knows elves are better talkers than dwarves."
"First I've heard of it," Kith-Kanan muttered.
The Speaker of the Sun turned to face the delegations. King Glenforth stood
resolutely beside him, his hands resting on the long chisel as a warrior rests on his sword
pommel.
Kith-Kanan listened for a moment to the stillness of the valley. The mist was
vanishing, burned off by the rising sun. A flock of swifts darted and wheeled overhead.
Somewhere in the distance, a dove made its mournful call.
"We have come here today," he began, "to erect a fortress. Not a stronghold for war,
for we have too long followed that path. This fortress, which we of Qualinesti and our
friends of Thorbardin shall build and occupy together, shall be a place of peace, a place
where people of all races can seek haven and find protection and rest."
The Speaker paused as the first direct rays of the sun lanced over the mountain peaks
into the valley. He was facing east, and the sunbeams warmed his face. A surge of
resolution, of the rightness of what they were beginning here today, passed through
Kith-Kanan.
"This boulder will be the cornerstone of Pax Tharkas, the Citadel of Peace. King