"Adkins, Patrick H - Titans 02 - Master of the Fearful Depths" - читать интересную книгу автора (Adkins Patrick H)

wreathed in phosphorescence. It rose from the sea bottom like a scarlet
mountain, its thick walls and high towers reaching high above the
surrounding hills and bluffs.

As they drew near, piscine sentinels sensed their presence and swam to
meet them; other fish carried word of their arrival to the palace. An
honor guard of stately silver ray fish glided out to circle and escort
them toward the main entrance, leaving them only as Proteus and Nalassa
swam through an enormous portal and into a wide corridor.

The palace, which the sea god Nereus had commanded to grow upon this
spot, was formed completely of coral. Ugly, coral-eating fish patrolled
its corridors, grazing on walls, floor, and ceiling to keep them
properly trimmed.

As they swam they were joined by an ever-increasing number of
golden-haired nymphs, the daughters of King Nereus and Queen Doris. By
the time they reached the great hall more than a dozen Nereids encircled
them. The goddesses laughed and chatted excitedly, their long hair and
beautiful gowns, woven of many-colored sea growths, fluttering around
them in the water.

Now Nalassa found herself in an enormous, high-ceilinged chamber. Walls
of blue coral surrounded them and small fish scuttled out of their way.
Millions of phosphorescent creatures, microscopic in size, had imbedded
themselves to the high walls and ceiling of the room; each produced only
a dim illumination by itself, but collectively they flooded the chamber
in a soft blue-white light. The walls of the great room were lined with
benches and tables, and nearby rose a high platform surmounted by two
polished thrones of gleaming black coral.

A dark-haired goddess was swimming toward them, smiling warmly as she
drew near. Behind her at a short distance followed a golden-haired god.
Proteus and Nalassa slowed to a stop, floating side by side and moving
their arms and legs only as much as necessary to maintain their
positions.

"Greetings, Queen Doris," Proteus said as the goddess slowed her rapid
progress with a few reverse strokes of her hands.

She laughed, threw her arms about his neck, and kissed him. "Proteus,
will you never abandon your senseless formality when you speak to me?
I'm still your sister, even if you seldom visit me."

"And the mother of the world's most beautiful goddesses," he said,
nodding toward the watching Nereids who were gathering at a discrete
distance.

Nereus, the golden-haired god, had now joined his wife. A little plump
and below medium height, he carried himself with a regal bearing