"Ann Durand - Flight of the Gryphon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Durand Ann)

Askinadon could be listening at this moment, Adrella reminded herself. As soon as she had the thought,
the ringing started up in her head. The Voice broke through, and her head crackled with the intrusion.
She turned her thoughts to images that pleased Askinadon. She imagined herself dancing before him in
her silken spullera, but he did not respond to it. Instead, the Voice hissed in her mind like the hot breath
of a rocsadon.

Did you see it, Adrella? He paused to listen. Ah, I see that you did. Good. Nothing quite like a
rocsadon feasting, is there?

Adrella cringed, but forced herself to answer. The mighty rocsadon has disappeared back into the
forest, dear Husband and God of Parallon. You rule with almighty power. May all glory be yours,
oh, Great One.

This phrasing rarely failed to subdue Askinadon, and this was no exception. There was another pause,
and he replied in a softer tone.

Just remember not to fail in your mission. We wouldn't want any rocsadons bearing down on your
parents' hosta, now would we?

Adrella's stomach did a sickening spin, but she forced herself to answer, No, Master. I obey.

Askinadon's Voice faded into a buzz, which subsided and died out. Adrella spurred her hoshdel into a
trot, then a gallop as she responded to a new sense of urgency. I must find Katera…today. I must find
her today .

Chapter Nine
"That's it!" Mike cried. "I think we've done it." He grinned as he held up the new VisiOrb, which he had
modified into a small ear set. "You can receive the Voice and send your own through this device. It fits
comfortably in the ear, and no one will see it if your hair is down."

Katera clapped her hands together and laughed. She'd changed back into her freshly cleaned spullera
and panna, and beamed with an earthy femininity. Much easier to work around than the form-fitting ulli,
Mike noted with relief.

"Let's try it," she urged. "See if it works."

The smile faded from Mike's face as he set the Orb down on his workbench. "No test runs, Katera. As
soon as you activate it, Askinadon will know where you are and demand that you come to him…if he
doesn't come for you himself. I sure as hell don't need Don Askins poking around these caves, and I
don't think you're ready to march up the hill to see him either, right?"

Katera shook her head. "I'd like to use it soon, though. I want to find out what happened to my sister."

Mike stared at her. She certainly stayed true to her purpose. He sighed. She deserved to know what
probably happened. Maybe it was time to tell her.

"I think I know where your sister is. I've been up there on the summit many times, always at night and
always in secret. I know that Askinadon keeps many wives. Sometimes I hear them at night in their
hostas, talking and laughing while Askinadon and most of the Kastaks are sleeping." Mike paused. "I
believe your sister is one of those wives."