"Константин Бояндин. The Guardian ("Истории Ралиона") " - читать интересную книгу автора

keep their boat afloat, it was hard enough to breathe... And the spell was
still working. Nlaminer ceased his concentration on the spell and sparks
died one by one.
There were no signs of Rhissa around. It was a good omen. If something
dangerous were nearby, he wouldn't be left to sleep. The island was mostly
rocky; no big predators were here, so Rhissa had something to do.
Undoubtedly she will return to the same cave. There is time to scout the
surroundings, while the sun still provides some light.
Nlaminer drew the boat to a safer place (though the storm was over, it
could happen again) and began walking clockwise, in the direction of the
purple sun just ahead. The island was a rough circle, a steep cliff one
hundred feet high, with no hints of safe climbing. If we do not find some
place to ascend, thought Nlaminer gloomily, we will have to sail north
again. With no water and no food supplies, the journey can be the last one.
The cliff was dark and sturdy. Only sand, a ring of sand twenty feet
wide - all that separated the cliff from the ocean. In the morning, while
they tried to find a haven and found none, the words about curse befallen
this island seemed not only a dark joke; the lightnings, striking the rocky
circle, the mighty waves trying to smash adventurers to death - as if some
hostile will was trying to prevent them from getting ashore. The tiny pool
of quiet water around the boat - the only effect of his spell - was not safe
enough, when waves fell from above and the tons of foamy water tried to
swallow them. And now, this unsafe barrier between rock and water was not
promising any good shelter.
The recollection ended after they had crawled into a natural cave;
Nlaminer had fallen asleep right on the spot. As far as he could guess it
was about nine o'clock now. He slept for... for fourteen hours. The spell
drained him too much. Deep in his thoughts, Nlaminer made several paces more
and had a first look at the Ladder.

* * *

Rhissa dived for several hours; the ocean water was warm and clear; and
the oppressive feelings following the storm has passed away. The island
pierced the abyss like a great tower, rising from the unseen depths. The
bottom descended very quickly; by the time Nlaminer woke up she had dived as
deep as she could trying to reach the lower part of the huge stone ladder;
but it continued deeper and deeper, with no sign of bottom nearby.
It seemed the island drowned, to a depth of several hundred feet.
Whatever secrets now lay under the unreachable mass of silt, they were well
hidden. She thought she saw some outlines of doors... probably walls or
statues... but probably it was just the work of imagination.
The ladder itself was a great discovery. This island was considered
deserted and lifeless. She was always fascinated by any mysteries and events
of the past. When Nlaminer awakens, she thought, they will lead their path
up to the top. Whatever shelter can be found here, there is undoubtedly some
building atop.
She ate. There was fish aplenty; she liked it raw, but Nlaminer,
despite his carnivorous origin, always boiled or fried any meat or fish.
Tastes differ; even if his bow wasn't lost in the storm, there was nothing