"L. E. Modesitt - Recluce 11 - The Death of Chaos" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

"We don't have that much time or power." Krystal pursed her lips.
"Has anyone seen Justen?" I asked. "He should know something."
"I talked to Tamra this morning," Krystal said. "He left two days ago."
"Rather convenient," observed the autarch.
"She didn't go with him?"
"According to Tamra, Justen told her that she was now perfectly able to take care of herself
for a while and he needed a holiday. He was headed west, but he didn't say where he was going."
Both women looked at me.


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I sighed. "I guess I'd better take a trip."
"I'm not commanding," Kasee began. "One requests from order-masters-politely. Very politely."
I wasn't certain that the half-lucky disposal of a mere three white wizards merited so much
deference. Still, I had to smile. "You can't afford to lose your subcommander."
"Commander," interposed Kasee.
"And neither can I."
"Lerris..." began Krystal.
I shrugged. "I'll pack up some tools and wander into Hydlen. I'll be an apprentice, looking for
a situation. I still look young enough for that."
"I appreciate that offer, Lerris. You don't have to undertake this."
"I have an interest." I looked at Krystal. "A strong interest." Then I looked back at the
autarch. "This is going to take time. I don't intend to march over the pass directly. Don't you
have to do something? I mean, soon?"
Kasee looked at me with the hint of a smile. "What? I can send more troops and have them
slaughtered. If Berfir invades Kyphros, I'll get plenty of warning, and it's easier to fight in
our desert hills than in the mountains. Acting too soon can only cost us. There's only Jikoya
there, and the town's worth less than the troops I could lose. I might need the troops, and their
commander, for when they're more useful."
Krystal nodded.
I didn't quite swallow. The idea that troops were more important than a town-that I hadn't
thought about.
"Anything else you might need, Lerris?" asked the autarch.
I forced a grin. "It would help... if I could obtain some... donations for... travel expenses."
"You've gotten hopelessly mercenary," Kasee said dryly.
"It's much less expensive than losing troops because you don't know what's going on," I pointed
out. "You just said that."
Kasee did smile, briefly.
"How would you go?" asked Krystal.
"The land route. A poor apprentice wouldn't arrive the easy way."
"You never have taken the easy route." Krystal rubbed her forehead. I appreciated the worry,
but I stood a better chance than she did, what with wizardry and firebolts apparently flying
around.
"Thank you, my dear subcommander."
"What about an escort partway?" asked Kasee. "It would speed up the first part of your trip,
wouldn't it?"
The message was clear enough, and I bowed to the need for deliberate haste. "It wouldn't hurt
to have a few troopers, at least until I get to the Lower Easthorns. As Krystal can tell you, I'm