"03 - Shadowlight" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jefferies Mike)

Breakmaster rose, blinking away his tears, and stepped
backwards into the shadows.

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'Use it well,' called out the King. 'When Elundium is safe
once more, ride out into the morning sunlight and listen to
the sweet music in the battlecoat's weave and remember how
we stood side by side and laughed at the Nightbeasts'
shadows. Remember then our greatest moments.'

'But, Lord,' ventured the horseman, gathering his courage
and stepping back to the King, 'Nevian, the Master of Magic,
counselled me to put the coat about your shoulders to keep
you warm and safe on our dark flight from the ruins of the
Granite City. Surely you should keep it close about your
shoulders?'

King Holbian laughed, a soft light glowing in his eyes.
'Our flight from the Nightbeasts is over, Breakmaster. If
Thanehand fails against the Nightmare, Krulshards, it will
be here upon the Causeway Field that the last moments of
sunlight will shine in all Elundium - here beneath the walls
of Underfall. For this was foretold long ago in my youth and
not even the power of magic or music in the steelsilver can
stop what must unfold.'

Breakmaster nodded dumbly and retreated into the shadows
to prepare Beacon Light for the daylight yet to dawn.

'Be proud,' shouted the King as Breakmaster hurried away,
'for we kept the light and the people of Elundium safe
through the darkest hours.'

Angishand, Thane's mother, moved quickly through the
dense huddle of city folk, urging them to keep close to the
battle crescent, yet all the while her eyes were drawn towards
the dark bulk of Mantern's Mountain looming against the
starry skies.

'Keep safe, my child,' she whispered over and over again,
shivering and twisting the hem of her shawl tightly between
her fingers as she remembered Thane's last night in the
Granite City. They had wanted his death then and had
shouted for it through all the levels of the city but now . . .
She laughed nervously, catching the noise in her throat
stifling it back into silence. Nobody had realized then that the

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