"Julian May - Trillium 3 - Sky Trillium" - читать интересную книгу автора (May Julian)

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Trillium 03 - Sky Trillium by Julian May (v1.0) (html).html


"And gladly will I accompany you! But I confess that I am sad that you will not
confide in me. You know I would never tell any secret of yours to a living soul."

Tolivar hesitated. He had not intended to disclose the nature of the treasure to his
friend. But he was strongly tempted now to have at least one other person know
about the wondrous things he owned. And who better than Ralabun? Tolivar
said, "Do you swear that you will not tell the King or the Queen about my
secret? Nor even the Archimage Haramis herself, if she should command it?"

"I swear upon the Three Moons and the Flower!" said Ralabun stoutly.
"Whatever privity you entrust to me I will guard faithfully until the Lords of the
Air carry me safely beyond."

The Prince nodded somberly. "Very well then. You shall see my great treasure
when I fetch it tonight from its hiding place in the mire. But if you reveal what it
is to others, you may forfeit not only your own life, but also my own."

Ralabun's big round eyes gleamed in the dimness as he made the sign of the
Black Trillium in the air with one hand. "What is this marvelous thing that we
seek, Hiddenheart?"

"Something I must show you, rather than speak of," said the Prince. And he
would say no more, for all the Nyssomu's coaxing.

After they had traveled on for another hour the drizzle ceased and a brisk wind
began to blow, sending dark clouds speeding across a small patch of starry sky.
On the opposite bank the torch-lamps of Ruwenda Market at the westernmost
end of Citadel Knoll flickered dim, for the Mutar was now over a league wide.
Then they entered the braided section of the river, where there were many

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Trillium 03 - Sky Trillium by Julian May (v1.0) (html).html


wooded islands during the Dry Time. Most of these were submerged now, with
the lofty gonda and kala trees that grew on them rising out of swirling black
water. It would have been easy to lose the way, and several times the Prince had
to correct Ralabun's navigation. Unfortunately, the mirecraft of the old
stablemaster was not nearly so expert as he pretended.

"Here is the creek," Tolivar said at last.

"Are you sure?" Ralabun looked doubtful. "It seems to me that we must go on
farther—"