JК
The Floodgate :: Каннингем Элейн
Страница: 40 из 212Since then moondark had come and gone, and a plump crescent overlooked the temple like a lazy, heavy-lidded eye.
Matteo swallowed his frustration. "What efforts have been made to recover her?"
"Officially, none," the priest told him. "You see, Kiva has disappeared into the forested pass that leads through the mountains into the Mhair Jungle. By treaty with the Mhair elves, Azuth's priests cannot enter that pass. Wizards, swordsmen and commoners among Azuth's followers are not bound by this prohibition, but none have found the elf's trail."
"Nor will they. Following an elf in a forest is like tracking a falcon's flight in a cloudy sky."
"Just so. You understand why we were hesitant to ask for assistance elsewhere."
Matteo understood perfectly. As long as Kiva's disappearance brought no additional harm to Halruaa, the Azuthans would seek her quietly, hoping to retrieve her before her escape became general knowledge.
He studied the priest "You wouldn't have told me any of this without good reason."
The priest raised his eyebrows at this blunt speech, but he did not offer a disclaimer. "Do you know this Andris well?"
Matteo repeated words he had spoken many times before. "As well as one man can know another."
His host smiled thinly. "Is that an expression of brotherhood or cynicism?"
"Both, I suppose."
"A wise balance. Tell me: in your opinion, did Andris go after Kiva? For vengeance, perhaps?"
"Were he so inclined, he would have ample reason."
"Interesting," the priest murmured. He looked keenly at Matteo. "You tracked this jordain to the temple. Could you follow him into the forest?"
"I would fare better with some assistance. There are two men at the Jordaini College who are excellent trackers, and good fighters. Will you send for them?"
The priest nodded. "If you think their expertise will balance the additional delay, yes. You trust these men?"
Matteo's answering smile was both sharp and sad. "As much as I trust anyone."
Three days passed as Matteo awaited the arrival of his jordaini brothers. He spent much of the time in the temple's library, studying maps and lore of the Mhair Jungle. The rest he devoted to learning to ride the huge, tame lizards the priests kept in their stables-just as a precaution, or so the stable hands assured him at every opportunity. These were the only mounts that could traverse the jungle. While no one from the temple actually rode into the jungle, they stressed, if need arose the proper mounts were available.
Finally the tolling of temple bells announced the approach of visitors.
Matteo swallowed his frustration. "What efforts have been made to recover her?"
"Officially, none," the priest told him. "You see, Kiva has disappeared into the forested pass that leads through the mountains into the Mhair Jungle. By treaty with the Mhair elves, Azuth's priests cannot enter that pass. Wizards, swordsmen and commoners among Azuth's followers are not bound by this prohibition, but none have found the elf's trail."
"Nor will they. Following an elf in a forest is like tracking a falcon's flight in a cloudy sky."
"Just so. You understand why we were hesitant to ask for assistance elsewhere."
Matteo understood perfectly. As long as Kiva's disappearance brought no additional harm to Halruaa, the Azuthans would seek her quietly, hoping to retrieve her before her escape became general knowledge.
He studied the priest "You wouldn't have told me any of this without good reason."
The priest raised his eyebrows at this blunt speech, but he did not offer a disclaimer. "Do you know this Andris well?"
Matteo repeated words he had spoken many times before. "As well as one man can know another."
His host smiled thinly. "Is that an expression of brotherhood or cynicism?"
"Both, I suppose."
"A wise balance. Tell me: in your opinion, did Andris go after Kiva? For vengeance, perhaps?"
"Were he so inclined, he would have ample reason."
"Interesting," the priest murmured. He looked keenly at Matteo. "You tracked this jordain to the temple. Could you follow him into the forest?"
"I would fare better with some assistance. There are two men at the Jordaini College who are excellent trackers, and good fighters. Will you send for them?"
The priest nodded. "If you think their expertise will balance the additional delay, yes. You trust these men?"
Matteo's answering smile was both sharp and sad. "As much as I trust anyone."
Three days passed as Matteo awaited the arrival of his jordaini brothers. He spent much of the time in the temple's library, studying maps and lore of the Mhair Jungle. The rest he devoted to learning to ride the huge, tame lizards the priests kept in their stables-just as a precaution, or so the stable hands assured him at every opportunity. These were the only mounts that could traverse the jungle. While no one from the temple actually rode into the jungle, they stressed, if need arose the proper mounts were available.
Finally the tolling of temple bells announced the approach of visitors.