"Mary Kirchoff, Douglas Niles. Flint, the King ("Dragonlance Preludes II" #2) (angl)" - читать интересную книгу автора

their arrogant worship - their presence was sure to be un-
bearable.
The region of Qualinesti was different, though. Flint had
actually entertained thoughts of going there, into that nest
of elves, to see his old - and unlikely - friend, the Speaker
of the Suns. Flint remembered fondly the time he had spent
in Qualinost some years back. He was still one of the few
dwarves who had ever been invited into that elven

kingdom - and by the speaker himself! A visiting dignitary
had acquired a silver and agate bracelet at a territory fair,
which he then gave to the elven leader. The Speaker of the
Suns had been so impressed by the metalsmith's craftsman-
ship that he had tracked down the smith, who was none
other than Flint Fireforge of Solace, and extended an invita-
tion for the dwarf to demonstrate his craft in the marble
elven city.
It was during that first trip to Qualinost that Flint had met
Tanis Half-Elven, the Speaker of the Sun's ward. Young
Tanis had stood for hours watching the dwarf's demonstra-
tions in the elven city, staying afterward to talk. Flint under-
stood the boy, who seemed unhappy because of his mixed
heritage, and the two spent many pleasant hours together
whenever the business of selling his crafts brought Flint near
Qualinesti.
The dwarf was tempted now to find the half-elf. On their
last night together at the Inn of the Last Home, Tanis had
said he was going to go on a quest that would bring him to
terms with his heritage at last. Flint presumed Tanis meant
he was going back to face the full-blooded elven relatives of
his in the city of Qualinost who had never really accepted
the half-elf. The dwarf was somewhat concerned about his
friend, but he had shrugged off any misgivings. After all,
the companions had agreed to separate for five years, and
Flint would be damned if he'd be the one to break that agree-
ment.
So he would give Qualinost a wide berth and follow the
forest paths instead. He knew that if he kept a steady pace
he would pass from the wood around nightfall.
Flint began to wonder now, in the quiet of Darken Wood,
if he hadn't been fanciful, believing even half of what the
dwarf back at Jessab's had said. Mountain dwarves - much
less the replusive derro - in Hillhome! Yet why would
Hanak have invented such a tale? Flint pushed the question
away for the time being. The answer would be made clear
soon enough.
He had been getting lazy in Solace - and bored, if the
truth be known - without his young friends around. He had

been at rest too long. Unconsciously he hefted his axe.