"Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman - Rose of the Prophet 02 - The Paladin of the Night" - читать интересную книгу автора (Weis Margaret)

to my dwelling. I am just going over to pick up Sond's lamp, Master," the
djinn said loudly,'sidling nearer and nearer his basket. "The floor of this
cave is extremely wet. I hope I don't slip and tallтАФ Ooops!"
The djinn sprawled headlong on the floor, knocking over the basket. As it hit
the ground, the lid flew off and Pukah made a desperate attempt to slip
inside, but Kaug was there ahead of him. Crabbing the lid, the 'efreet slammed
it on top of the basket and held it there firmly with his huge hand.
"I hope you have not hurt yourself, little Pukah?" the 'efreet said
solicitously.
THE PALADIN OF THE NIGHT 33
"No, thank you, Master." Pukah gulped. "It is amazing how fast one of your
bulk can move, isn't it, Master?" "Isn't it, little Pukah? Now, you will be
going!" "Yes, Master." Sighing, Pukah leaned down and picked up Sond's lamp.
Slowly and reluctantly, the young djinn began to dwindle away into the air
until all that remained of him was his eyes, staring disconsolately at the
basket. "Master!" cried his disembodied voice. "If you would only grant
meтАФ
"Be gone!" roared Kaug. The eyes rolled upward and disappeared. Instantly the
'efreet snatched off the lid of the basket and thrust his huge hand inside.
Book Two
THE BOOK OF ZHAKRIN 1
Chapter 1
Hie procession wound its way slowly across the plains toward the city of
Idrith. It was a magnificent sight, andтАФas word of its approach spread through
the souksтАФmany Idrithians clambered up the narrow stairs and lined the city
walls to see, exclaim, and speculate.
At the head of the procession marched two mamalukes. Gigantic men, both seven
feet tall, the slaves wore red-and-orange feathered headdresses that added an
additional three feet to their height. Short black leather skirts banded by
gold encircled their narrow waists. Cold flashed from the collars they wore
round their necks, jewels glittered on the headdresses. Their chests and legs
were bare, their skin oiled so that it glistened in the noonday sun. In their
hands, each mamaluke carried a banner with a strange device, the like of which
had never before been seen in Idrith. On a background red as blood, there
glistened a black snake with eyes of orange flame.
Now snake banners were common enoughтАФevery city had at least one minor or
major potentate who thought himself wily enough to deserve such a symbol. But
this particular insignia had something unusualтАФand sinisterтАФabout it.
The snake's body was severed in three places and still, from the portrayal of
the forked tongue flicking from the silken mouth, it seemed that the snake
lived.
Behind the mamalukes marched six muscular slaves clad in black leather skirts
bound with gold but without the addi-
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38
WEIS AND HICKMAN
tional finery of the standard-bearers. These slaves bore between them a
palanquin whose white curtains remained tightly closed, permitting no one to
catch a glimpse of the person who rode inside. A troop of gooms mounted on
matching black horses closely followed the palanquin. The soldiers' uniforms