"Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman - Rose of the Prophet 02 - The Paladin of the Night" - читать интересную книгу автора (Weis Margaret)

subject intently. The figures were not human; no human had ever crossed the
Sun's Anvil whose empty dunes surrounded the sea. The three were immortals—
not gods, but those who served both gods and humans.
"You're telling me that his dwelling is down there, in that?" said a djinn,
staring at both the water and his fellow djinn with deep disgust.
The water of the Kurdin Sea was a deep cobalt blue, its color made more vivid
and intense by the stark, glaring whiteness of the desert. In the distance,
what appeared to be a cloud of smoke was a white smudge against a pale blue
sky.
"Yes," replied the younger djinn. "And don't look so amazed, Sond. I told you
before we left—"
"You said on the Kurdin Sea, Pukah! You never said anything about in the
Kurdin Sea!"
"Unless Kaug's taken up boating, how could he live on the Kurdin Sea?"
"There's an island in the center, you know."
"Galos!" Pukah's eyes opened wide. "From what I've heard of Galos, not even
Kaug would dare live on that accursed rock."
"Bah!" Sond sneered. "You've been listening to the mectdah's stories with ears
soaked in qttmiz."
"I haven't either! I'm extensively traveled. My former master—"
"—was a thief and a liarl"
"Don't pay any attention to him, Asrial, my beautiful enchanter," said Pukah,
turning his back upon Sond and facing a silver-haired woman clad in white
robes, who was looking from one to the other with increasing wonder. "My
former master was a follower of Benario, but only because that was the
religion in which he was raised. What could he do? He didn't want to offend
his parents—"
"—by earning an honest living," interposed Sond.
"He was an entertainer at heart, with such a wonderful way with animals—"
THE PALADIN OF THE NIGHT 5
- "Snake charmer. That was his ploy to get into other people's houses-."
He was not a devout believer! Certainly Benario never blessed him!"
"That's true. He got caught with his hand in the money
jw—"
"He was misunderstood!" Pukah shouted.
"When they were through with him, he was missing more than understanding,"
Sond said dryly, folding his gold-braeeleted arms across his bare chest.
Drawing his saber from the green sash at his waist, Pukah rounded on the older
djinn. "You and I have been friends for centuries, Sond, but 1 will not allow
you to insult me before the angel I love!"
"We've never been friends, that I knew of," Sond growled, drawing his saber in
turn. Steel flashing in the bright sun-Hgbt, the two began to circle each
other. "And if hearing the truth insults you—"
"What are you two doing?" the angel demanded. "Have you forgotten why we are
here? What about your Nedjma?" She glared at Sond. "Last night you shed tears
over her cruel fide—being held captive by this evil afright—"
"—'efreet," corrected Sond.
"Whatever it is called in your crude language," Asrial said loftily. "You said
you would give your life for her—which, considering you are immortal, doesn't
seem to me to be much of a sacrifice. We have spent weary weeks searching the