"Will McDermott - Magic the Gathering - Odyssey Cycle 03 - Judgement" - читать интересную книгу автора (McDermott Will)

is freedom without power, hmmm? The canals will give me access to the mainland, but I cannot launch my
attack on the empress until I can destroy her portals."
The ambassador pointed to a lobster claw placed in the middle of the map. "There is where the power
is," said the mer. "I can feel the Mirari moving toward the mountains in the hands of that blasted barbarian.
With that power, my mages can destroy the portals, and I can seek my revenge on those who imprisoned
us."
A knock came at the door.
"Come," called the ambassador. The door opened, and Talbot floated into the room.
Ah, good news at last, thought Laquatas, seeing his senior advisor enter.
"My lord," said Talbot. "The squids have broken through to the canals. The chief engineer reports it
will take several days to shore up the tunnel, but we have access to the mainland at last!"
"Excellent news, Talbot," exclaimed Laquatas. "Now it is time to retake that which is rightfully ours."
 "But, sire, our forces are still no match for the empress's army!" cried Talbot, cringing immediately as
he realized what he had said. -
"Relax Talbot," smiled Laquatas. "I do understand the need for more power before we can challenge
the empress. But I have a plan." Laquatas gestured to Talbot to come closer. "Take a look at this map."
As Talbot swam closer, the ambassador pointed to the red claw again. "Here is the Mirari headed for
the Pardic Mountains. You will notice that our canals do not reach past the foothills. A problem? No. An
opportunity."
Laquatas traced his webbed hand southeast from the mountains to a small square printed on the map
that Laquatas had surrounded with black pearls.
"This is Aphetto, site of the southern pits. If we can trust what little information we have been able to
gather, we know that the Cabal First was exiled there. By now, he will have cemented a power base that
we can use to launch an attack on the mountains."
"I see," grinned Talbot. "You will use the Cabal to get the Mirari out of the mountains. A cunning plan,
Sire."
"Not quite cunning enough, I'm afraid, Talbot," replied Laquatas. "The First is a powerful ally but also a
chaotic and fearsome enemy. He will want the Mirari back as the prize in his new arena, and I cannot just
take it from him. For that, I will need the help of a more orderly and less powerful ally."
The ambassador traced his fingers north, past the Pardic Mountains, past the Krosan forest, to a large
rectangle-the Order Citadel-surrounded by a circle of white pearls.
Laquatas swam around the desk to Talbot. "You will go to
phetto as my ambassador to the Cabal. Request an immediate audience with the First, and take a
scrying mirror with you so that 1 may lay out my plans to him personally."
"But wouldn't a personal visit carry more weight with the First?" asked Talbot.
"Perhaps," replied the ambassador, "but it cannot be helped. 1 must set the rest of my plan into motion
as well, and that 1 must do in person. You know how the Order loathes the use of artifacts."
The ambassador ushered Talbot to the door. "Now, go!" he said. "This must be done with all due
haste. The empress may be a cephalid, but she is not stupid. She will eventually establish a relationship with
the Cabal to further cement her power base. It is vitally important that we get there first."

CHAPTER 3
Laquatas knew his way through the tunnels that led to the Citadel. He'd swum them before in his
pursuit of the Mirari. Yes, he knew these damnable tunnels all too well, but this time they would be his
salvation.
"Perhaps when 1 am emperor, I will rename them 'the Northern Laquatas tunnels,' " mused the former
ambassador.
As before, Laquatas opened the portal to the surface well outside the walls of the Citadel for himself
and his new jack, Burke.
"Mustn't alarm the locals," he told Burke. "If the land dwellers knew about our little system of tunnels