JК
The Floodgate :: Каннингем Элейн
Страница: 139 из 212When there is a threat against the heart of Halruaa,this power ensures that either the threat or those threatened are removed to a place of safety."
Matteo recalled the men in the icehouse melting away into magical haze. "What is the heart of Halruaa?"
Zalathorm was silent for a moment. "Removing a malfunctioning machine from the palace is the sort of manifestation I have come to expect. You need have no fear for your patron's safety."
"What about the safety of those around her?"
The king sighed. "Very well, I will admit that the queen's clockwork toys have grown too numerous and dangerous. I will see that this building frenzy is curtailed and have priests heal the wounded and restore the slain woman to her life and her loved ones. Will that content you?"
Matteo considered pressing for an answer to the "heart of Halruaa" question and decided to leave this for another time. "Almost, Your Majesty," he said. "Now that I have your assurances that the queen is safe, I request permission to leave Halarahh for an indeterminate period of time. I will need horses and supplies for my journey. I have tried for some time to bring this request to the queen and ask that she retain the jordain Iago, currently serving Procopio Septus. He will accompany me on my journey."
"Is that all?" the king inquired in a dry tone.
"Not quite. There is a jordain yet at the college-Themo, a fifth-form student. The queen has need of his service, as well. We will ride north and meet him at the travelers' rest on the road out of Orphamphal, but he must leave today, though he has not yet completed his training."
Zalathorm studied Matteo's face, then nodded slowly. "I cannot read your mind, jordain, but there is much urgency in your eyes and voice. Coming to me was not an easy thing, but you held service to Halruaa above all else. For this, all will be done as you have asked."
Matteo bowed. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Don't thank me," the king said with a grim smile. "Don't the jordaini have a proverb claiming that virtue never goes unpunished?"
"I have never heard that proverb, but most seem to be of jordaini origin."
"Blame it on the jordaini, in other words?"
"Perhaps, sire," said Matteo dryly, "that is our true function."
To his surprise, the king chuckled and clapped him on the back. "Mystra speed you, lad. I look forward to speaking with you again, when your business in the north is completed."
Matteo bowed again, and watched as Zalathorm strode down the hall that separated the king's palace from the queen's.
Matteo recalled the men in the icehouse melting away into magical haze. "What is the heart of Halruaa?"
Zalathorm was silent for a moment. "Removing a malfunctioning machine from the palace is the sort of manifestation I have come to expect. You need have no fear for your patron's safety."
"What about the safety of those around her?"
The king sighed. "Very well, I will admit that the queen's clockwork toys have grown too numerous and dangerous. I will see that this building frenzy is curtailed and have priests heal the wounded and restore the slain woman to her life and her loved ones. Will that content you?"
Matteo considered pressing for an answer to the "heart of Halruaa" question and decided to leave this for another time. "Almost, Your Majesty," he said. "Now that I have your assurances that the queen is safe, I request permission to leave Halarahh for an indeterminate period of time. I will need horses and supplies for my journey. I have tried for some time to bring this request to the queen and ask that she retain the jordain Iago, currently serving Procopio Septus. He will accompany me on my journey."
"Is that all?" the king inquired in a dry tone.
"Not quite. There is a jordain yet at the college-Themo, a fifth-form student. The queen has need of his service, as well. We will ride north and meet him at the travelers' rest on the road out of Orphamphal, but he must leave today, though he has not yet completed his training."
Zalathorm studied Matteo's face, then nodded slowly. "I cannot read your mind, jordain, but there is much urgency in your eyes and voice. Coming to me was not an easy thing, but you held service to Halruaa above all else. For this, all will be done as you have asked."
Matteo bowed. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Don't thank me," the king said with a grim smile. "Don't the jordaini have a proverb claiming that virtue never goes unpunished?"
"I have never heard that proverb, but most seem to be of jordaini origin."
"Blame it on the jordaini, in other words?"
"Perhaps, sire," said Matteo dryly, "that is our true function."
To his surprise, the king chuckled and clapped him on the back. "Mystra speed you, lad. I look forward to speaking with you again, when your business in the north is completed."
Matteo bowed again, and watched as Zalathorm strode down the hall that separated the king's palace from the queen's.