"Tamora Pierce - Circle Opens 2 - Street Magic" - читать интересную книгу автора (Pierce Tamora)

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Tamora Pierce - The Circle Opens Quartet Vol. 2 - Street Magic

Acknowledgments
GLOSSARY




CHAPTER ONE

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In the city of Chammur, on the eastern border of Sotat:
For centuries it had been called "fabled Chammur," "Chammur of the Flaming Heights," and
"Mighty Chammur." For twelve hundred years the city on what was now the easternmost border
of Sotat had straddled the trade routes from Capchen to Yanjing. Chammur was guarded on the
west by the Qarwan River. In the north and east were riddled mazes of the flame-colored stone
that provided the oldest part of the city with a sanctuary from bandits and warlords alike.
For Dedicate Rosethorn of Winding Circle temple in Emelan and her fourteen-year-old student
Briar Moss, Chammur was a stop on a journey to distant Yanjing. Briar had only ever heard the
name of the city and little more. Rosethorn, though, had been fascinated since she'd first read of it,
and she was able to tell him something of its history on their way east. Her knowledge came from
books and this trip with Briar was her first chance to actually see the place that she had studied for
so many years.
The original town, Rosethorn said, had been built first on, then in, the spur of stone called
Heartbeat Heights. Then it spread to the cliffs on either side. The shepherds, goatherds, and
miners who originally settled the area had kept to the rocky mazes that stretched out for miles. It
was easy to hide from any force that tried to prey on them in thousands of wind- and water-carved
heights and canyons.
As trade prospered between east and west, the value of Chammur's site and its nearness to the
river drew merchants and farmers, who took advantage of the security of the stone apartments. As
the city grew crowded, the wealthiest and most powerful moved their homes to the flat, open
ground between the heights and the river, where they could surround themselves with elaborate
houses and gardens. They also promoted themselves to the nobility: the cousins of the present
amir, or ruler, were among them. Although Chammur belonged to Sotat on any map, and its
people bowed to the king in Hajra in the west, the truth was that the Chammuri amirs were kings
in everything but name, and had been so for centuries.
Rosethorn and Briar's journey was a kind of working study program for Briar. No matter where
they went, people could always find work for green mages, skilled with plants and medicines.
Chammur was no different. Within days of their arrival, before they had completed their sight-
seeing, they had gotten so many requests for magical aid that Rosethorn knew they had to stay for
a while. She moved herself and Briar out of the Chammuri Earth temple's guest quarters and into
a house next door on the Street of Hares. Once settled, she began to work with Chammur's
farmers, Briar with the local Water temple and its stores of medicines and herbs.
Six weeks after their arrival, Briar at least had finished his work. The Water temple now had a