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

you."
Again he laughed, a sound of genuine amusement rather than forced maliciousness, and DragonStar
tore his gaze away from the hypnotic figure of Qeteb and looked at Niah.
Again he had the strongest feeling that there was something so infinitely dangerous about her that, of
all those in the group across the chasm, including Qeteb, she would prove the most formidable foe.
But then one of the black beasts shifted and snorted, and the spell was broken. DragonStar gave
Qeteb one last stare, then turned his back and walked as slowly and as nonchalantly as he could into
Sanctuary.

"Well?" said Sheol.
"He is still weak," Qeteb said, "and we must not give him the time to grow more powerful."
"How?" said Barzula.
Qeteb let his eyes roam over the enchantments that protected Sanctuary.
"They have been made, and they can be unmade," he said. "And all I need do is find the key."

Neither the Demons nor DragonStar realised that there was another observer.
Isfrael, hidden within a small stand of trees just before the entrance to Sanctuary. His eyesight and
hearing were as keen as those of all Avar, and he'd witnessed and heard the entire exchange.
He stood and watched thoughtfully as the Demons swung their black mounts about and returned into
Spiredore.
They were evil, Isfrael knew, and he loathed them before anything else in his life, but Isfrael had a
burning ambition and that was to regain his rightful place at the head of the Avar.
The Demons were vile, worse than vile, but maybe they could be used.
They could help him into what Isfrael coveted more than anything else: the Sacred Groves. In the
Sacred Groves Isfrael could regain his standing. Faraday would be nothing if Isfrael controlled the
Sacred Groves.
The Avar would come back to him then.
But if he wanted the Demons to aid him, then Isfrael would need something. Information,
perhaps, to exchange. And information good enough to enable Isfrael to navigate safely the hazards of
demonic negotiations.
What? What would the Demons want?
Souls. They wanted souls. It is what gave them power.
So what might deliver more souls into the hands of the Demons? Isfrael grinned to himself.
Sanctuary would. The Demons needed the key to Sanctuary.
Now all he needed to do was find it himself.
Isfrael turned and walked into Sanctuary, turning thoughts over and over in his mind. The Demons
could be used — but it would be more than dangerous. And was he ready to risk everyone in
Sanctuary?
Yes! Yes! But only if he could manage to get the Avar out before the Demons gobbled up everyone
else within this pastel prison.
Isfrael's steps slowed as he contemplated the Avar safe forever within the Sacred Groves: no axes,
no damned Icarii arrogance, and no Faraday to destroy his power.

Chapter 11
StarLaughter


StarLaughter was far too insane to be intimidated by Qeteb's threat. She stood as Qeteb stepped into the
tower, the door closing behind him, and then she slowly turned and stared across the bleak wasteland to
the east.