"Nancy Varian Berberick - Dalamar the Dark" - читать интересную книгу автора (Varian Nancy)

work he is at there in his Tower. It seems to us all that it would be a good
thing to know."
Ladonna lowered her eyes and smiled a secret smile. Justarius scowled. In the
smile, Dalamar recognized ambition. He felt at once that the Head of the Order
of Black Robes knew she held her place only so long as the upstart in
Palanthas did not want it. In the scowl, he recognized a similar feeling. It
was widely known that Justarius would succeed Par-Salian as Head of the
Conclave and Master of this Tower when Par-Salian chose to stand down. This
station, too, the mage in Palanthas could claim if having it appealed to him.
These things ambitious people were wise to consider, but it seemed to Dalamar
that the three most powerful mages in Krynn feared something else, something
more.
"And so you see," said Par-Salian, "that some things are known about this
Master of Past and Present. Here is another. Though he has scorned to take
what power he might rightfully gain by challenge, he keeps to himself, perhaps
creating power and position outside the Orders and the Rule of High Sorcery."
The shock of such an idea ran like lightning along Dalamar's nerves. Before he
could think, he spoke. "This cannot be permitted, my lord!"
Par-Salian nodded, but absently. "That is easy to say. We have said it here
time and again. But now we must do something. I have said the mage has not
locked the gates of his Tower against all. He will admit an apprentice, a
student."
Quiet again, his eyes modestly cast down to hide the spark of his own sudden
ambition, Dalamar murmured, "Why would he, my lord?"
Par-Salian did not reply. He nodded to Ladonna, who said, "I do not know why.
I only know he will. I have asked it, he has said it. A student of our Order,
a dark mage, he says, one who has at least two wits to rub together. If I were
to send him a student"-Dalamar's heartbeat quickened, and Ladonna's level gaze
told him she sensed the sudden beating-"I would send a spy. I imagine mat if
he took in a student, he would know that. Perhaps he would seek to turn the
spy."
"He would not turn me, my lady." Dalamar stopped, keenly aware that he had not
been invited to volunteer.
She smiled, a lean tugging of her lips. "I don't think he would. You are
uniquely schooled in the virtues of balance, are you not?" Then, before
Dalamar could respond she said, "Indeed, you are."
Justarius nodded, at last in approval. He glanced from Par-Salian to Ladonna,
and it seemed to Dalamar that some communication passed among the three.
Par-Salian inclined his head, as though in response, perhaps even agreement.
"We will not command you, young mage, to take up this apprenticeship. We
cannot, for the one who does this work will put his life and perhaps his very
soul at risk the moment he speaks his acceptance. And if he is found out"-
Par-Salian shook his head-"he will die. That death will be a terrible thing,
and a long, long time coming."
Dalamar took that warning seriously. Yet, hadn't he been risking his life, by
some accounts even his soul, for magic's sake since the first moment he felt
the sparkle of magic in his blood? To serve as apprentice to the one mage in
all of Krynn who could make the Heads of the Three Orders afraid ...! He
smiled, but secretly, in the shadow of his hood. What wonders of sorcery could
he learn from this mage who'd stolen a Tower right out from under the eyes of