"Brian Thomsen - The Nobles 04 - The Mage in the Iron Mask" - читать интересную книгу автора (Thomsen Brian M)

"I'm sure," said the master traveler, not wanting to start an argument, "but Mulmaster is
known as the City of Danger for a very good reason. If you thought the Red Plumes of
Hillsfar were bad, wait 'til you get a load of the Hawks."
"Well, I did last night," the thespian countered. "They weren't too bad as far as a city
watch goes."
"No, my friend," Volo corrected. "You were proba-bly taken in by regular soldiers. The
Hawks are the High Blade's own storm troopers. Rumor has it that he regularly dispatches
them to do his dirty work throughout the Realms. Let me give you a little his-tory.
"Mulmaster was foundedтАФby various influential merchant groupsтАФin the Year of Fell
Wizardry, as a trading fortress way station between the Moonsea, the River Lis, and the
Dragon Reach. It managed to not only survive, but thrive during the years of un-rest, and
eventually, in the Year of Thunder, made a bid for complete domination of the Moonsea, only
to be put back in its place by the combined forces of Sembia, Hillsfar, Phlan, Melvaunt, and
Zhentil Keep."
"Scrappy little place," the thespian commented be-tween mouthfuls.
Volo continued in his recitation of exposition text that he no doubt had already composed
for the guidebook in progress.
"There was much finger pointing after their failed attempt at expansionism, and out of the
anarchy arose the formation of a single seat of power, to rule over the others. This leader
was to be called the High Blade, who was to work in conjunction with the other ranking
nobles who from that time on were known as the Blades. The first High Blade took power in
the Year of the Wandering Wyrm, and quickly assassinated any of the Blades who didn't
agree with his way of doing things. From that point on the Blades were nothing more than a
puppet rul-ing council."
"Wonderful," the thespian observed, "so that's why he needs those shock troopers
around to protect him."
"No, my friend," Volo corrected. "That's the job of the Brotherhood of the Cloak. Any
mage in the city of fourth level or higher is immediately recruited to their ranks, or else."
"Or else what?"
Volo made a motion as if he was slitting his throat with the bread knife.
"Oh," said the chubby thespian, beginning to think that maybe leaving town would be a
good idea.
"The current High Blade is a fellow by the name of Selfaril Voumdolphin, who succeeded
his father into the job after assassinating him. That was back in the Year of the Spear."
"Did he then marry his mother? I seem to recall a play about something like that."
"I'm afraid not," the gazetteer replied. "This is one case where life does not mirror drama.
He did re-cently marry though, to an equally powerful young lady by the name of Dmitra
Flas."
"Never heard of her."
"She's also known as the First Princess of Thay, and the Tharchioness of Eltabbar, or just
the Thar-chioness for short. It was a major diplomatic coup for both Mulmaster and Thay."
"Wonderful."
"She spends most of her time back in Eltabbar, and he's been known to continue to play
the rogue with the wandering eye despite their matrimonial vows. She visits here three times
a year. I believe she just arrived yesterday for her most recent visit. Both sides claim that
they were wedded due to their mu-tual respect and love for each other, but I wonder."
"The problem with you, Volo," Passepout said sagely, "is that you are no longer a
romantic. If she just arrived back in town yesterday, I bet we won't see hide nor hair of either
of them for a while. This is obviously a case of true love winning out despite per-sonal
differences in upbringing and breeding. I'll bet they can't wait to see each other."