JК
The Magehound :: Каннингем Элейн
Страница: 197 из 216"
Tzigone huffed and threw up her hands. "You try to do the right thing, and who listens?"
Andris draped an arm around his friend's shoulders. "We are doing a great thing here. I hope you'll choose to join us."
They turned to watch the fighters, who had resumed their training. As Matteo studied the group, he recognized a number of men from his school, students who, at a very young age, had been found unsuitable for a jordain's life and released from service. Also among them were two or three men who had been condemned by the magehound as magic-tainted. Yet they had fought with passion and pride, preparing to serve the elf woman who had destroyed their lives.
"You and I are jordaini," Andris said quietly. "Chosen for our gifts, trained to serve the wizards of Halruaa. None of the wizards can halt the spread of the Swamp of Akhlaur. We can."
Despite himself, Matteo was interested. "You know the secret of the swamp?"
"The wizard Akhlaur opened a gate to the Plane of Water. A trickle remains, and the laraken feeds upon the spill of magic from the elemental plane. It is our task to fight through to the gate and make the way clear for Kiva. While we engage the laraken, she will enter the swamp and close the gate."
"But that is worse than the Kilmaruu Paradox!" Matteo protested. "If the gate is closed, the laraken will be unleashed upon the land. Many wizards will be destroyed."
Tzigone sniffed. "Well, there's more to Kiva than I suspected! I thought I was the only one to have that particular dream."
Andris eyed her with interest. "You do not care for wizards. That's a strange sentiment for a jordaini lad."
"I'm not a boy, and I'm no jordain!" she said emphatically. "What I am is chock-full of magic. Laraken eat magic. So as far as I can figure, there's only one reason for Kiva to want me here: bait."
The jordain's face lit up. "You are the young woman of whom Kiva spoke! The one who can call the laraken!"
Tzigone's eyes narrowed. "What makes you think this laraken will come when I call it?"
"You have the gift. Kiva says that it is so-an inheritance from your mother, the wizard Keturah."
The color drained from Tzigone's face. "Keturah," she said, repeating a name that was suddenly familiar. "Of course. All creatures came to Mother's call."
"You have both magic and resistance to magic. The laraken will be enticed by your voice. You will lure it away from the magical gate, and Kiva will close the leak forever. But if Kiva is correct, the laraken will not be able to touch the magic locked inside you.
Tzigone huffed and threw up her hands. "You try to do the right thing, and who listens?"
Andris draped an arm around his friend's shoulders. "We are doing a great thing here. I hope you'll choose to join us."
They turned to watch the fighters, who had resumed their training. As Matteo studied the group, he recognized a number of men from his school, students who, at a very young age, had been found unsuitable for a jordain's life and released from service. Also among them were two or three men who had been condemned by the magehound as magic-tainted. Yet they had fought with passion and pride, preparing to serve the elf woman who had destroyed their lives.
"You and I are jordaini," Andris said quietly. "Chosen for our gifts, trained to serve the wizards of Halruaa. None of the wizards can halt the spread of the Swamp of Akhlaur. We can."
Despite himself, Matteo was interested. "You know the secret of the swamp?"
"The wizard Akhlaur opened a gate to the Plane of Water. A trickle remains, and the laraken feeds upon the spill of magic from the elemental plane. It is our task to fight through to the gate and make the way clear for Kiva. While we engage the laraken, she will enter the swamp and close the gate."
"But that is worse than the Kilmaruu Paradox!" Matteo protested. "If the gate is closed, the laraken will be unleashed upon the land. Many wizards will be destroyed."
Tzigone sniffed. "Well, there's more to Kiva than I suspected! I thought I was the only one to have that particular dream."
Andris eyed her with interest. "You do not care for wizards. That's a strange sentiment for a jordaini lad."
"I'm not a boy, and I'm no jordain!" she said emphatically. "What I am is chock-full of magic. Laraken eat magic. So as far as I can figure, there's only one reason for Kiva to want me here: bait."
The jordain's face lit up. "You are the young woman of whom Kiva spoke! The one who can call the laraken!"
Tzigone's eyes narrowed. "What makes you think this laraken will come when I call it?"
"You have the gift. Kiva says that it is so-an inheritance from your mother, the wizard Keturah."
The color drained from Tzigone's face. "Keturah," she said, repeating a name that was suddenly familiar. "Of course. All creatures came to Mother's call."
"You have both magic and resistance to magic. The laraken will be enticed by your voice. You will lure it away from the magical gate, and Kiva will close the leak forever. But if Kiva is correct, the laraken will not be able to touch the magic locked inside you.