"Juliet E. McKenna - Einarinn 2 - The Swordsman's Oath" - читать интересную книгу автора (McKenna Juliet E)

This circle has, however, been sadly diminished by the untimely
deaths of Zoey Ducker, through tragic accident, and Graham
Skinner, after long illness. They are not forgotten.


Chapter One
^»
From Planir,
Archmage of Hadrumal,
to Messire Guliel D'Olbriot,
Sieur of that House and Keeper of the Honor
of the Name, Adjurist of the Convocation of
Princes and Patron of the Empire,
Solstice salutations and most heartfelt wishes for
prosperity and health in the year to come.
My dear Sieur,
I am most grateful to you for intelligence of the
Elietimm ships wrecked on your coasts over the
For-Winter season. I have not forgotten the narrow
escape of both your man and mine in their recent
encounter with that race and may I assure you I
remain sensible of the threat to your domains and
the wider peace of the Empire. Beyond such important
but necessarily impersonal concerns, I would venture
to remind you that just as you lost a sworn man in
Aiten, I lost a scholar in Geris, a man of much
learning who might have aided us both against this
threat, though of course, nothing outweighs the loss
of both their lives. I do not forget such debits in
the scales, as I am sure you do not.
Your letter encourages me to think that you
realize, as do I, that our interests lie along the
same road in this matter. Just as you face the very
real danger of hostile forces landing on your
coasts, or worse, to lie concealed in the
unpopulated reaches of Dalasor or Gidesta, so I am
faced with the threat of a complex magic whose
mysteries we in Hadrumal are still unravelling. On
that subject may I assure you that there can be no
shame or blame attached to your man Aiten for his
attack on my mage Shivvalan. There can be no doubt
that had his mind not been invaded by the foul
enchantments of the Elietimm, he would have fought
to the end in defense of his honor and your Name.
Thank you for your enquiries after Shivvalan; he
is quite recovered and eager to do his part in
foiling the schemes of the Elietimm. You also
mentioned the pleasure with which you received the
sword that I discovered so unfortunately concealed
by an elderly and somewhat eccentric wizard, but