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

permission. In feet, it seemed as if I was being pulled inside!"
"Pulled inside an 'efreet's. house! Who's the fool here now? Certainly not
me!" Pukah appeared amused.
"Bah! I might as well be talking to the seaweed!" Shoving Pukah aside, Sond
swam past him, diving down toward the cave on the ocean floor where the
'efreet made his home.
Pukah cast the djinn a scathing glance. "At least the seaweed would provide
you an audience on your own mental level! Come on, Asrial." Catching hold of
die angel's hand, he led her down to the very bottom of the sea.
Kaug's cave was hollowed out of a cliff of black rock. A light glimmered at
the entrance, the eerie luminescence coming from the heads of enthralled sea
urchins gloomily awaiting their master's return. The long greenish brown moss
that hung from the cliff reminded Asrial of the squid's tentacles.
"I'm going in there alone," whispered the angel, reminding herself of Mathew's
plight and trying very hard to be courageous. "I'm going in there." But she
didn't move.
Sond, biting his lower lip, stared at Kaug's dwelling as though mesmerized by
it.
"On second thought, Asrial," Pukah said in a bland and innocent voice, "I
think it might be better if we did accompany youтАФ"
"Admit it, Pukah! You feel it, don't you!" Sond growled. "I do not!" Pukah
protested loudly. "It's just that I don't think we should let her go in there
alone!"
"Come on then," said Sond. "If we're not barred at the threshold, then we know
something is wrong!"
The two djinn floated ahead to the entryway of the cave, their skin shimmering
green in the ghostly light emanating from the sea urchins, who were staring at
them with large, sorrowful eyes. Slowly Asrial swam behind. Her wings fan-
THE PALADIN OF THE NIGHT
13
nmg the water, she paused, hovering overhead as the djinn stoppedтАФone standing
on either side of the entryway.
"^Vell, go on!" Sond gestured,
"And get a jolt of lightning through my body for breaking the rule. No thank
you!" Pukah sniffed scornfully.
"This was your idea!"
"I've changed my mind."
"You're not going to be stopped and you know it. I tell you, we're being
invited inside there!"
"Then you accept the invitation!"
Glaring at Pukah, Sond cautiously set his foot across the threshold of the
'efreet's dwelling. Cringing, Pukah waited for the blue Bash, the crackle, and
the painful yelp from Sond, an indication that the established rule among
immortals was being violated.
Nothing happened.
Sond stepped across the threshold with ease. Pukah sighed inwardly. Despite
what he'd told Sond, he, too, had the distinct feeling that he was being urged
to enter the 'efreet's home. No, it was stronger than that. Pukah had the
disquieting impression that he belonged inside the eerily lit cave.
"What nonsense, Pukah!" Pukah said to himself with scorn. "As if you ever