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

She had died with her eyes fixed longingly upon that blue orb, with one hand
clasping a Star hanging on jeweled links at her breast and the other holding a
curiously wrought little glass phial with a few frozen droplets remaining in it.
Her body was perfectly preserved in the deep cold, dressed in rich garments of
mournful black. Her hair was dark, streaked with silver. She had been middle-
aged but of surpassing beauty, a prisoner like himself. The archives of the Dark
Man had told him some of her tragic story:

Her name was Nerenyi Daral, and she had been the founder of the mighty Star
Guild. One who loved her beyond all reason and loyalty had "saved" her from
the fate that had befallen most of the other members of her group, only to see her
voluntarily relinquish life rather than evade the Conquering Ice in his despised
company. The loss of Nerenyi had driven Denby Varcour, greatest hero of the
Vanished Ones and Archimage of the Firmament, out of his mind.

The prisoner bowed deeply before her body, trying to control his shivering. He
could not live long in this rigorous place. If the dead woman's second gift proved


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inoperative after aeons of disuse, he would surely freeze to death before Denby
awoke and ordered the sentinels to seize him.

"I could not kill him after all, Star Lady," he confessed to her. "Perhaps his
magic protected him. But I suspect it was my own soul that demurred, unable to
take his life in such a craven manner as he lay smilingly unconscious, replete
with good food and wine. Should another day come when he and I meet in
honorable magical combat, man-to-man, I will not hesitate to destroy him. Will
that suffice?"

The voice that might have been hers replied, It will. Have you found the basic
instruments of enchantment—those that will enable you to resume your work?

"I have." He lifted the sack. "My Star eventually led me to all of them, even
though it took some time. I am ready now to return to the world, regain the three
pieces of the Sceptre of Power, and perform the task you have commanded."

The Three will do their best to prevent you.

"Lady, no human being will stop me—not even the one I love. I swear it on the
Star."

When he had first found Nerenyi Daral, some instinct bade him touch his own
medallion to hers… and the ancient magic of her Guild had done its work,
granting him the full power of the Star at last. It was the dead woman's first gift.