"Bard's Tale 06 - Escape from Roksamur - Mark Shepherd UC" - читать интересную книгу автора (Bard's Tale)

Derek groaned. "You know as well as I do that
spending gems on the market devalues them. No,
brother, there must be another way. We still have a hope
for a crop, if rain comes soon."
Alaire avoided meeting his eyes. Row do I tell him
that what he asks is next to impossible?
The Bard took the harp off his shoulder and re-
garded it as if it were an oracle. This was his older
harp, the one with which he trained under his Bardic
master, Naitachal. It was sturdier and more suitable for
travel than his newer harp, which he'd left in his quar-
ters. What would the Dark Elf do in this situation?
Would his opinion be so colored by familial ties as
mine seems to be right now?
Alaire shook his head slowly, but resolutely. "Derek,
I don't know how to tell you this," he began hesi-
tantly. "Bardic magic has its place in healing, in spell-
casting, in other things as well. I am good, but I am
not a master, and may never be one. What you are
asking is nothing less than the total upheaval of the
worlds climate." He paused, regarded his harp briefly,
as his own spark of hope 'came and went Can Bardic
magic bring rain?
"You don't have to tailor your words for me," Derek
said. "I know that what I ask is probably impossible.
But we must try something." He yawned expressively,
and rubbed his eyes. "It need not be major. Just a
light rain at least, to break up this oppressive heat."
Alaire relented. "I will try, brother. But not now.
I need water, a bath and rest, in that order. Tomor-
row I might be able to attempt something."
"Why didn't you say so?" Derek said, reaching for
the pewter pitcher and pouring clear water into a
tankard. >
"I thought it was wine," Alaire said, taking the
tankard of water thankfully.
The king chuckled. "Not this afternoon, little brother.
We're thirsty enough today without the spirits."
A knock sounded at the chambers door. Alaire drained
the tankard, grateful for the water, paying only slight
attention to the interruption.
"Enter," Derek said, in a deep baritone voice.
The young servant who had admitted Alaire entered
sheepishly, evidently under orders to interrupt only when
necessary.
"Your Majesty," the servant said. "There is a mes-
senger from Suinomen. Just arrived, sir. He claims to
have urgent news for you, which he must deliver
personally."
The King frowned, but didn't hesitate to say, "Show