"Raymond E. Feist - Serpentwar 1 - Shadow of a Dark Queen2" - читать интересную книгу автора (Feist Raymond E)

as if a thousand lightning strikes flashed, illuminating the
night. A second later a loud thunder peal sounded, and
all turned to see the shimmering in the sky. Jarwa said,
'The way is open.'
The snake priest hurried forward, pointing down the
ridge. 'Lord, look!'
Jarwa turned to the west. Out of the distant flames
small figures could be seen flying toward them. Bitterly
Jarwa knew this was a matter of perspective. The
screamers were the size of an adult Saaur, and some of
the other fliers were even larger. Leathery wings would
make the air crack like a wagoneer's whip, and shrieks
that could drive a sane warrior to madness would fill the
dark. Looking at his own hand for any signs of trembling,
Jarwa said to his son, 'Give me your sword.'
The youth did as he was bid, and Jarwa handed his
son's sword to Kaba. Then he removed Tual-masok from
his scabbard and gave it, hilt first, to his son. 'Take your
birthright and go.'
The youth hesitated, then gripped the hilt. No
loremaster would glean this ancient weapon from his
father's body to present to the heir. It was the first time in
the memory of the Saaur that a Sha-shahan had voluntarily
surrendered the bloodsword while life remained
in his heart.
Without another word, Jatuk saluted his father,
turned, and walked to where his own companions
waited. With a curt wave of his hand, he motioned for
them to mount and ride to where the remaining masses
of the Saaur gathered to flee to a distant world.
Four jatar would ride through the new portal, while
the remaining part of the fifth, as well as all of Jarwa's old
companions and loremasters, would stay behind to hold
the demons at bay. Chanting filled the air while the
loremasters wove their arts, and suddenly the air erupted
in blue flames as a wall of energy spread across the sky.
Demons flying into the trap screamed in anger and pain
as blue flames seared their bodies. Those that quickly
turned away were spared, but those that were too far into
the energy field smoldered and burned, evil black smoke
pouring from their fiery wounds. A few of the more
powerful creatures managed to reach the ridge, where
Saaur warriors leaped without hesitation to hack and
chop at their bodies. Jarwa knew it was a faint triumph,
for only those demons whom magic had seriously
wounded could be so quickly dispatched.
Then the snake priest howled. 'They are leaving, lord.'
Jarwa glanced over his shoulder and saw the great
silver portal hanging in the air, what the snake had called
a rift. Through it rode the van of the Saaur youth, and for