"Sara Douglass - Redemption 1 - Sinner" - читать интересную книгу автора (Douglass Sara)

Their weakness, their lack of courage, and their consummate failure meant
that the mysteries of the stars were denied WolfStar until after his death. No, no,
no… he could not countenance that. He couldn't!
"WolfStar?"
WolfStar's body stiffened and he barely restrained himself from letting his
power bolt in anger about the chamber. "My title is Talon, CloudBurst. I
command that you use it."
"Brother, you must stop this madness. Nothing gives you the right to murder
so many.”
"Murder?" WolfStar leaped down from the lip of the Gate and grasped his
brother's hair, wrenching CloudBurst's head back. "Murder? They are
adventurers, CloudBurst, and they have a duty to their Talon. And they are doing
that duty badly't"
"WolfStar-"
"My title is Talon!" WolfStar screamed and twisted CloudBurst's head until the
birdman's neck creaked and his face contorted in agony.
"Talon," CloudBurst whispered, and WolfStar's grip loosened. "Talon, you are
throwing these children to their deaths. How many lives have been wasted now?
Two hundred? More, Talon, more!"
"They would not die if they crawled back through the Star Gate. They have
wasted themselves, not I. They have failed. Their blame, not mine."
"No-one has ever come back through the -"
"That is not to say no-one can, CloudBurst." WolfStar finally let CloudBurst go
and stood back. "Perhaps they are not strong enough. I need young Enchanters
of powerful blood. Very powerful." His eyes locked with CloudBurst's.
 "No!" CloudBurst sank to his knees, quivering hands outstretched in appeal.
"No! I beg you. Not -"
"Bring me your daughter, CloudBurst. StarGrace has SunSoar power. Part of
her shares my blood. Perhaps she will succeed where others have failed."
"No! WolfStar, I cannot -"
"I am Talon," WolfStar hissed. "I am WolfStar SunSoar, and I command you!
Obey me!"
But StarGrace did not return, either. WolfStar muttered instructions and
orders to the terrified, sobbing sixteen-year-old girl as he seized her by her
wings and hurled her into the Star Gate. But like all the others, she only
cartwheeled into the pit of the universe to vanish completely. WolfStar stood at
the lip of the Star Gate for two full days, watching and waiting, taking neither
food nor drink, before he cursed StarGrace for all eternity for her weakness and
failure and stepped back.
He jumped, startled.
"You are tired, my husband. Will you not take some rest?"
StarLaughter stepped forward from the shadows of the arches. "Come with
me, my love, and let me warm and soothe you to sleep."
WolfStar reached out and smoothed his wife's dark hair back from her face.
She was his first cousin, close SunSoar blood, and second only to him in
Enchanter power. So powerful.
Perhaps too powerful. For months now WolfStar had good reason to suspect
StarLaughter plotted against him, plotted to take the title of Talon for herself.
WolfStar almost laughed. She must be mad to think she could wrest power
from him.