"Karl Edward Wagner - Sing a Last Song of Valdese" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wagner Karl Edward)

starve your guests? Sit down here, please. Have we met? I am Passlo, on my way
in the service of Thoem to take charge of the abbey at Rader."
"A pleasure to meet you, Eminent Passlo." The priest touched hands as he
seated himself. "I am Callistratis, journeying in the service of Thoem to
Carrasahl. I've heard the abbey at Rader has fallen to the Dualists in these
evil times."
The abbot scowled. "Certain rumors have reached us in the South. Word that
there are certain rebel priests in the northern provinces who would contend
that Thoem and Vaul are but dual expressions of the same deity. No doubt these
heretics consider it prudent to align themselves with the god of these
northern barbarians, now that the empire drifts into civil war."
The priest poured wine and drank hunched forward so that his lips were hidden
in the shadow of his cowl. "I have heard such attempts to vindicate the
Dualist heresy. It may be that our errands are the same, Eminent Passlo."
"Well, Revered Callistratis, that doesn't surprise me. I'd sensed immediately
that there was a presence about you that argued for more than the simple
priest. But I'll not intrude further on one whose mission requires that he
travel incognito. But tell me, though, how would you deal with the Dualists?"
"By the prescribed formula for any heresy. They should all suffer impalement,
their bodies left for night beasts and carrion birds."
The abbot clapped him on the shoulder. "Splendid, Revered Callistratis! We are
of one accord! It pleases me to know that those who believe unswervingly in
Thoem's sacred precepts have not all passed from the priesthood! I foresee a
pleasant evening of theological discussion."
"Come, revered gentlemen, don't judge too harshly. After all, there is
precedent for Dualism in the history of your priesthood."
A short, stocky gentleman with a fine grey beard looked gravely at the
priests. He straightened from the fire where he had stooped to light his pipe.
A silver medallion embossed with a university seal depended from a chain about
his thick neck.
"Precedent?" the abbot snapped.
The short man nodded through a puff of smoke. "Yes. I refer to the dogma
formalized under the reign of King Halbros I that Thro'ellet and Tloluvin are
but dual identities of the evil principle. No one in the days of the monarchy
considered such doctrine heretical, although ancient beliefs plainly ascribe
separate identities to these demonlords."
The abbot paused to consider. "An interesting point," he conceded grudgingly,
"although the manifold embodiments of evil are certainly acknowledged by our
doctrine. Nonetheless, your argument does not hold in this instance, for there
is but one true cosmic principle of good, whom true believers worship as
Thoem. May I inquire, sir...?"
The grey-bearded gentleman blew smoke in a flourish. "I am Claesna, of the
Imperial University at Chrosanthe. Your proposal of theological debate caught
my ear, eminence. The prospect of intelligent discussion promises salvation
from what I had previously feared would be a dull evening in a back-woods
tavern. May I join you?"
"Claesna?" The abbot's tone was surprise. "Yes, I've beard a great deal of
you, sit. Please join us! Why does a scholar of your high renown pass through
these dismal mountains?"
Claesna smiled acknowledgment. "I'm headed for Rader myself, actually. I've