"Dennis L. McKiernan - The Silver Call 2 - The Brega Path" - читать интересную книгу автора (McKiernan Dennis L)

dig-out, followed by a long forced march, they arrived at last at the
Dusk-Door. And all the while, Cotton had borne with him a small silver horn:
the Horn of Narok—the Horn of the Death War—a token deeply feared by the
Dwarves, for it was a relic of Dwarven legend, a legend foretelling of a great
unknown sorrow to befall the Dwarves.
Indeed the Door was covered by a huge mound of rubble, and the work to remove
it began. But at sundown the Krakenward attacked, devastating the ranks of the
workers. After a desperate all-night struggle, by axe and sword and Atalar
blade, and fire and hammer and drill, and water and stone, the Army at last
defeated the Maduk, breaking the dam and draining the black lake and casting
huge stones down upon the Monster. Even so, the creature had buried the Door
under even more rubble, placing the rendezvous with the Squad and the entire
invasion plan in grim jeopardy.
But as the tale continues, we return to the river camp where the Squad even
now prepares to set forth for the Dawn-Gate, to set forth upon their dire
mission to penetrate the lightless, Spawn-filled length of Kraggen-cor in a
desperate bid to reach the hinges inside the distant Dusk-Door.
CHAPTER 1
THE GREAT DEEP
Perry was awakened at dawn by Delk, who had the last watch. Before joining the
others for breakfast, the Warrow retrieved Bane from the log beside him; the
Elven-blade had been embedded in the bark point down, the long-knife left
standing upright through the night as a silent sentinel for all the company to
see. And as each member of the Squad had taken his ward tour, he had kept a
close eye on the sword, watching for the flickering blue flame that would
gleam from the blade-jewel if Spaunen drew near.
Shannon Silverleaf, whose turn at guard had come after Perry's, had been
especially interested in the blade, and had plucked it out and held it with
reverence. "This was crafted long ago in the Realm of Duellin, a bygone Land
of Atala," the Elf had said to Perry after long study, "and the way of its
making is lost. This blade speaks of the Elden Days, when it was one of many
weapons fashioned to engage the evil forces of the Great Enemy, Gyphon—the
High Vulk. In a way, we are fighting Him still, for it is He who bred the
Rucha, Loka, and Ogruthi—as well as other evil beings—in Neddra, in the
Untargarda. My forefathers in the House of Aurinor made these blades to fight
that spawn.
"Alas, though many of these poniards were forged in those Elden Days, few
remain in Mithgar, and fewer still are yet in use—most lie in rest in ancient
graves or upon dusty tombs." Silverleaf had then flourished the blade. "But
this pick still serves. I think the name for this edge, Bane, is. well chosen,
and one which imparts honor to the weapon. This is a great token to carry into
Black Drimmen-deeve, and it bodes well
1
2 DEflrllS L McKIEWWI
for our mission." The Elf then had plunged its point back into the log and
replaced Perry at guard.
But now it was dawn, and any maggot-folk abroad would have taken cover from
the coming Sun, so Perry sheathed Bane and hunkered down for the morning meaJ.
"Enjoy your hot tea," said Kian, "for there'll be no fires after this one
until our mission is done; this is the last pot we'll brew til then. But we'll