"Stephen Lawhead - Dragon King 02 - The Warlords of Nin" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lawhead Stephen)

19-06-03 - v2.0 - spell corrections - billbo196



THE

WARLORDS OF NIN

By

Stephen Lawhead


ONE
QUENTIN STOOD at the high parapet overlooking the tranquil forest.
His eyes scanned the gently lifting hills clothed in their greens of early
summer, all softened in the golden afternoon light by the gathering mists
of evening. At his hand upon the cool stone balustrade a thin parchment
roll fluttered in the easy breeze. At his feet lay a leather case from which
he had drawn the scroll to read only moments before. The case bore the
royal insignia he knew so well: the terrible, twisting red dragon of the
Dragon King.
The warmth of the later afternoon sun splashed full on his face, and yet
Quentin felt a chill creeping through him. He sighed a heavy sigh and
hung his head, shaking it slowly from side to side. Hearing a rustle behind
him and the brushing tread of a soft foot on the stone, he turned to see Toli
gliding up.
The tall young man settled himself easily on the edge of the parapet and
crossed his arms over his chest. He regarded Quentin with a quizzical
brown eye and breathed the clean, fresh air deep into his lungs. “Listen,”
he said, holding his head to one side. “It is the sound of the earth at
peace.”
Quentin listened and heard the faraway chirp of birds as they flittered
among the whittle berries, the breeze nudging the leaves, voices
murmuring in a courtyard somewhere below.
“They told me a rider from Askelon had arrived with a message for you.
I thought to come and see if my master required anything.”
Quentin looked at his friend and smiled. “You mean curiosity moved
you from your beloved stables. Yes, a message from the King.” He picked
up the parchment and handed it to Toli, who began to read.
Presently Toli’s head came up, and his eyes found Quentin’s studying
him. “This does not say what the trouble is.”
“No, but it is not a request for a friendly visit. There is some need
behind it, and some urgency. If it were but a small thing Eskevar would
have waited. We’re due to travel back to Askelon in a few weeks
anyway....”
“And this recommends that we leave right away. Yes, I see. But there is
something else?” Toli’s sharp eyes appraised Quentin, who stiffened and
turned away from their piercing gaze.
“What makes you say that?”