"Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman. Time of the Twins ("DragonLance Legends" #1) (angl)" - читать интересную книгу автора

when confronted, it was only seen from the corner of the eye
that was looking for something else. His companion had sensed
it, too, he could tell, though, characteristically, she was too
proud to admit to fear.
Walking away from the thicket, Tanis felt guilty. He
shouldn't be leaving her alone, he knew. He shouldn't be wast-
ing precious time. All his warrior senses protested. But there
was one thing he had to do, and he had to do it alone. To do
otherwise would have seemed sacrilege.
And so Tanis stood at the bottom of the hill, summoning his
courage to move forward. Anyone looking at him might have
supposed he was advancing to fight an ogre. But that was not
the case. Tanis Half-Elven was returning home. And he both
longed for and dreaded his first sight.
The afternoon sun was beginning its downward journey
toward night. It would be dark before he reached the Inn, and
he dreaded traveling the roads by night. But, once there, this
nightmarish journey would be over, He would leave the
woman in capable hands and continue on to Qualinesti. But,
first, there was this he had to face. With a deep sigh, Tanis Half-
Elven drew his green hood up over his head and began the
climb.
Topping the rise, his gaze fell upon a large, moss-covered
boulder. For a moment, his memories overwhelmed him. He
closed his eyes, feeling the sting of swift tears beneath the lids.
"Stupid quest," he heard the dwarf's voice echo in his mem-
ory. "Silliest thing I ever did!"
Flint! My old friend!
I can't go on, Tanis thought. This is too painful. Why did I
ever agree to come back? It holds nothing for me now... noth-
ing except the pain of old wounds. My life is good, at last.
Finally I am at peace, happy. Why... why did I tell them I
would come?
Drawing a shuddering sigh, he opened his eyes and looked at
the boulder. Two years ago - it would be three this autumn - he
had topped this rise and met his long-time friend, the dwarf,
Flint Fireforge, sitting on that boulder, carving wood, and
complaining - as usual. That meeting had set in motion events
that had shaken the world, culminating in the War of the
Lance, the battle that cast the Queen of Darkness back into the
Abyss, and broke the might of the Dragon Highlords.
Now I am a hero, Tanis thought, glancing down ruefully at
the gaudy panoply he wore: breastplate of a Knight of Solam-
nia; green silken sash, mark of the Wildrunners of Silvanesti,
the elves' most honored legions; the medallion of Kharas, the
dwarves' highest honor; plus countless others. No one -
human, elf, or half-elf - had been so honored. It was ironic. He
who hated armor, who hated ceremony, now forced to wear it
as befitting his station. How the old dwarf would have
laughed.