"L. E. Modesitt - The Forever Hero 3 - The Endless Twilight" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

"That is correct, Your Majesty."

"Surprised, weren't you?"

"At becoming the Earl? Quite."

"That was not the reference I meant, Selern."

"Then I do not understand the question." Selern swallowed and hoped that the gesture had not been
noticed.

"That I doubt." The current ruler of the Empire of Light pointed toward the single small chair on the
other side of the inlaid and oldfashioned wooden desk. The occasional shimmer of dust motes that
intermittently resembled a ghostly curtain revealed the defense screen that separated the two men. "Have a
seat."

The newest Earl of Selern sat cautiously, keeping his eyes fixed on the Emperor. Ryrce wore neither
circlet nor crown. Wispy strands of straw-tinted hair framed his all too-round face.

"Caution carried to excess, Selern. That warning about Calendra--the old Eye--could only have
come from one or two sources. None of them would have had the nerve to deliver it, even anonymously. So
I checked the peerage lists for the newly elevated and for recent heirs. Had to be you. Would you care to
comment?"

Selern smiled. The smile was forced, but with a bit of humor. "You apparently have me on all rights,
Your Majesty." He paused, then added, "I thought I was more discreet than I was."

"You were discreet enough--assuming your Emperor was trustworthy."

"Are you?" asked Selern, trying to keep the tremor out of his voice.

"No Emperor can afford to be trustworthy, Selern, except when he benefits by it." Ryrce laughed
softly, a deep chuckling sound, before speaking again. "Then, he cannot afford not to be."

Selern waited.

"As of tomorrow, you assume the position of Eye. Both Eye regents have also been terminated."

Selern swallowed hard.

"What else could I do? Either they chose not to stand up to Calendra, or they agreed. I suppose they
might also have failed to see his plans."

"Your action makes sense." Selern nodded slowly. "Unfortunately."

"You noted the question of certain nuclear weapons. What do you propose?"

"Finding them, if possible."