"Recluce - 09 - Colors Of Chaos" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

   "Might catch on stuff in the stable. A mite bit higher'd be better."
The farmer nodded. "New wagon. Old one not much better than a stone boat
no more."
   The guard raised the medallion and glanced at Cerryl.
   "That's fine."
   With quick motions, the guard used a grease stick to mark the wood,
then took out the hand drill and began to drill the holes for the rivets.
   "Can remember when it was only three coppers," the farmer said to
Cerryl. "Before your time, young mage." He offered a wintry smile. "Not
be complaining, though. Do no good, and 'sides, I'd rather be using the
White highways than those muddy cow paths they call roads."
   Cerryl nodded, his eyes straying to the medallion Vykay had laid on
the wagon seat-simple enough, just a rectangular plate with the outline
of the White Tower stamped on it and the numeral 1, for winter, and the
year.
   Just about ready, ser," Vykay announced, straightening, placing the
medallion on the sideboard, and slipping the rivets/pins through the
holes in the medallion and in the cart sideboard. Then came the offset
clamps and two quick blows with the hammer. The guard glanced at Cerryl.
   The White mage nodded and concentrated, raising a touch of chaos and
infusing the medallion and rivets. He could feel the heat in his
forehead, not enough to raise a sweat, but noticeable to him. "There."
Cerryl turned to the farmer. "Your cart is allowed on all White highways
for another year, ser. I must warn you that if anyone tampers with the
medallion, you will need another. And ... they could get hurt."
   "I'd be knowing that, but I thank you." The farmer offered a brusque
nod and took the leads to the mule, flicking them and leading the cart
away, walking beside the mule, rather than riding.
   Cerryl glanced at the second vehicle-a long and high gray wagon with
bronze trim. The painted emblem on the side read: "Kyrest and Fyult,
Grain Factors."
   The hauler stood by the wagon. "If you could just replace ..."
   Vykay nodded and looked at Cerryl.
   Cerryl extended his senses and bled away the remaining chaos, although
there was so little left that no one would have been hurt, even if Vykay
had removed the old medallion.
   Vykay produced a chisel and, with two quick snaps, removed the old
medallion and then replaced it with the new.
   Cerryl added the chaos lock, then looked at the guard. "Is that all
for now?"
   "Yes, ser."
   With a smile, Cerryl slipped away and back up to his perch on the
second level of the guardhouse. He glanced back northward over the
highway, momentarily empty near the gates, though he thought he saw
another wagon in the distance making its way through the gray-leaved
hills toward Fairhaven. Because of the alignment of the city, he found it
strange that the north gate actually controlled the travelers from
Hrisbarg and Lydiar and the far east of Candar. It was also strange, as
he reflected upon it, how much straighter the Great White Highway was in
Gallos and western Certis than near Fairhaven itself-yet Fairhaven was