"James C. Glass - Empress of Light" - читать интересную книгу автора (Glass James C)

CHAPTER ONE: BIRTH
Mei-lai-gong came to Shanji in the form of an infant, and the world welcomed her with early morning
light of Tengri-Khan reflected from the glassy surface of the Three Peaks she had created only weeks
before her birth. One peak glowed pink, the other two laced with swirls of red and green, rising like
jewels beyond the high cliffs across the valley from Wang Mengnu's great domed city.

Kati had felt increasing discomfort the day before; the position of her baby had suddenly shifted, and
although the pain in her back had subsided, there was new pressure in her groin that brought her near
exhaustion by evening. She used her hands, drawing from the light of Tengri-Khan to relax her muscles
and bring new energy to her child, although there seemed little need for that. Yesui had been extremely
active all day, constantly turning, shifting position, and always there was that tiny hand exploring and the
wonderful energies coming from it, spreading everywhere.

Still, Kati was weary by the end of a day of continuous meetings, first with the nobles, then a group of
factory managers from the east who listened sullenly to her lecture on their responsibilities to the workers
under her new regime. Later in the day, she wrote orders for three of them to be replaced; having probed
their minds, she'd found them to be immovable from the old ways, yet they'd not been honest enough to
openly disagree with her. She would let them know that nothing could be hidden from the Empress of
Shanji. The meeting with the Council of Ministers went well enough, but all were men, and everytime
Yesui performed some new aerobatic that brought a gasp from her mother, they looked as if anxious to
flee before their Empress could drop her child before their very eyes.

She retired to her quarters earlier than usual, and lay down on the canopied bed brought from the rooms
she'd occupied as a ward of the Emperor, the bed on which Yesui had been conceived the night before a
short but terrible war bringing Kati to the throne of Shanji. Energy drained, Kati watched Tengri-Khan's
red disk settle down towards the summits of Three Peaks, then dozed. She was awakened by her
husband's return, but kept her eyes closed at first as he padded quietly around the room so as not to
disturb her. When she opened her eyes, she saw him standing by the little wooden crib brought to them
by the Tumatsin, rocking it back and forth with his foot, his back to her.

"I think it will be filled soon," she said, and he turned around, startled.

"Did I wake you?" Huomeng said, coming over to sit on the edge of the bed, and taking her hand in his.

"I was just dozing," she said, squeezing his hand, "and Yesui has been very active today. I think she is
eager to leave her little place, and be with us in the light."

Huomeng stroked her forehead, leaned over and kissed her lightly as his hand moved to her swollen
belly.

"She's quiet, now. Do you feel her?" asked Kati.

"No movement," said Huomeng, looking concerned.

"I meant with your mind, not your hand. Do you feel her presence as I do?"
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