"Sara Douglass - Redemption 3 - Crusader" - читать интересную книгу автора (Douglass Sara)

Qeteb.
DragonStar felt both terror and perfect stillness at the same time. Terror, because that was what
Qeteb dealt in and what his entire fabric of being was, and again terror because DragonStar knew that
currently he was no match for Qeteb — not for a one on one confrontation. He needed further thought, a
knowledge of Katie's Enchanted Song Book, and far more experience before he could possibly confront
Qeteb.
 Qeteb was too malevolent for him right now.
And DragonStar felt a perfect stillness because he was almost relieved to at least know that the
Demons could use Spiredore. He could not be trapped now that he knew.
Unless they trapped him right now.
DragonStar knew he should transfer immediately into Sanctuary, but he edged closer to the
balustrade of his balcony and peered over.
Far below him a mass of black wound its way upward. As he watched, the leading figure stopped,
and raised up his black metalled head.
StarSon!
DragonStar felt the power of a frightful malevolence (bate, envy, despair, pestilence) surge
towards him.
"Spiredore," he snapped, without any thought, "take that power and vent it elsewhere!"
And far to the north a group of icebergs exploded as Spiredore redirected the power.
Clever, StarSon, Qeteb whispered towards him. But bow pitiful that you needed Spiredore to
deal with that for you. Are you so weak?
DragonStar backed away from the balcony.
Are you so weak, StarSon?
He backed against a wall, and listened to the taunts flow upwards.
Are you weak that you need others to protect you, StarSon?
DragonStar drew his sword —
Pitiful little StarSon. A chorus of laughter and howls echoed up the stairwell.
Pitiful little StarSon.
— and drew the doorway of light, hating the relief that flowed through his body as he
stepped through.
DragonStar stopped by the blue-feathered arrow that he'd earlier stuck in the edge of the chasm,
letting his shoulders slump in relief — and a feeling that he thought might be self-disgust. Had he been
afraid?
He sheathed his sword, then flexed his hand, trying to work out some of his tension.
He needed to get back into Sanctuary, think about —
"StarSon! How nice to see you again so soon!" A mocking laugh followed the words.
DragonStar whipped about and stared across the chasm. Six black beasts, gruesome in their
constantly shifting, fluid forms, stood on the other side. Behind them stretched one of Spiredore's
blue-misted tunnels.
On the backs of the beasts were the Demons, as well the woman that DragonStar supposed was
Niah reborn.
Qeteb — it could be no-one else — had edged his beast slightly forward. He was a vile
creature, black metal armour encasing his entire form, and even plating his wings.
He was massive, at least half as tall again as the tallest man, and with a thickness of figure to match.
"Why not step across, Qeteb?" DragonStar called. "I am here. Reach me if you can,"
Qeteb's laughter floated across the chasm. "You know as well as I that I cannot broach the
enchantments that protect this — what do you call it? — ah yes, this Sanctuary."
DragonStar allowed a wave of relief to wash over him.
"But do not rejoice too soon," Qeteb continued, "for I surely see that all I need is a
key, and I have all the time in creation in which to find it. Wait for me, DragonStar, and I will join