"02 - Black Wizards - Douglas Niles" - читать интересную книгу автора (Moonshae)

scaly snout away in momentary indignation.
“Besides, Newt,” Robyn continued, “I’ve got to sort
out this tangle of vines before we do anything else.
They seem to grow thicker every day! I don’t know
how Genna tended this entire grove by herself.” Once
again, she pried the vines away from the trunk with
a heavy stick, grasping one and pulling it free from
the ground. She tossed the vine onto a pile of its fellows,
destined for an evening fire.
“Why do you have to sort these stupid old vines
anyway?” the dragon sulked. “Let them grow the way
they want to—and let us go swimming the way we
want to.”
“I’ve told you a hundred times, Newt. This is the
sacred grove of the Great Druid of Gwynneth, and
7
flicked toward the wizard’s unarmored breast.
The others gasped in surprise, flinching at the
sudden attack, but Cyndre merely raised a finger
and quietly spoke a word. Instantly, only a foot from
its target, the dagger was transformed. In its place, a
large bat fluttered upward, turning to lunge at the
assassin’s throat.
Another dagger flashed, but this one remained in
the assassin’s hand. He casually spitted the bat upon
the thin blade and flicked the carcass to the tabletop
before Cyndre. He could sense Cyndre’s eyes upon
him, boring from the depths of his hood.
For a moment the room remained frozen, the wizards
intent upon their leader. The assassin stood
stock-still before the table. The black wizard gestured
casually, and the dead bat instantly disappeared.
A smooth, amused chuckle emerged from the
dark hood, and the tension in the room slowly
drained away.
“Now, Razfallow,” continued the wizard, his voice as
pleasant as ever, “You will soon be free to return to
Calimshan. However, one more king upon the Moonshaes
threatens the dominance of our . . . liege.
“You will take your band to Caer Corwell. The
prince of that realm is something of a local hero, and
he is a menace to our ambitions. The cleric, Hobarth,
has warned us that we must act quickly, for the
prince has a beloved who is equally dangerous.
“You are to kill them, and the king, as well. The fee
will be twice your usual—thrice if you can return the
prince’s sword to Caer Callidyrr. Above all else, this
prince must die.”
6
Robyn studied her craft so diligently. She had