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The Wizardwar :: Каннингем Элейн
Страница: 196 из 208She repeated each spell word as they moved togetherfrom step to step. It was a long descent, and by the time they reached the bottom both were limp with tension.
"For once that jordaini memory training came in handy," she murmured as she took off into the room.
A sudden bolt of energy sent her hurtling back into Matteo's arms. He sent her an exasperated look.
"Memory training," he reminded her. "There's no sense in having a jordain around if you don't make good use of him!"
Tzigone recovered quickly and sent him a teasing leer. "I’ll remind you of those words at a more convenient time."
With a sigh, Matteo pushed her away and gave her a shove. "Three paces, then turn left."
They traversed the maze without further mishaps. Finally the three of them stood before the crimson globe. Andris and Zalathorm were still there. The jordain stood off to one side, watching intently as the king knelt before the shining artifact. Zalathorm rose and faced the newcomers.
"Akhlaur has returned. He awaits me on the field of battle."
Matteo looked uncertainly from the king to his oldest friend. "Much of Zalathorm's power comes from the artifact,'' he ventured.
"You told me it is impossible to fight evil with evil means," Andris reminded him. "What could be more wicked than leaving these spirits in captivity, when we might be able to free them?"
Zalathorm clapped a hand on the jordain's transparent shoulder. "That is the sort of advice a king needs to hear. Do what you must, and when the task is done, join me in battle." He glanced at Matteo. "When battle is through, I trust you will not mind sharing the honor of king's counselor with another?"
A wide grin split Matteo's face. The king smiled faintly. He stepped forward and gently touched his queen's face in silent farewell, then disappeared.
Andris looked to Tzigone. "What now?"
A whispered tune drifted through the room. Tzigone motioned for silence and listened intently to her mother's voice. The song was ragged, the notes falling short of true and the tone dull and breathy, but Tzigone listened with all the force of her being, absorbing the shape and structure of it.
Enchantment flowed through the song, revealing a subtle web around the glowing gem. Matteo stared at the gathering magic and recognized its source.
There was a defensive shield about the gem that no wizard could perceive or dispel. Someone, somehow, had crafted it from the Shadow Weave.
Matteo's nimble mind raced as he considered the meaning and implications of this. Kiva had studied the crimson star for over two hundred years.
"For once that jordaini memory training came in handy," she murmured as she took off into the room.
A sudden bolt of energy sent her hurtling back into Matteo's arms. He sent her an exasperated look.
"Memory training," he reminded her. "There's no sense in having a jordain around if you don't make good use of him!"
Tzigone recovered quickly and sent him a teasing leer. "I’ll remind you of those words at a more convenient time."
With a sigh, Matteo pushed her away and gave her a shove. "Three paces, then turn left."
They traversed the maze without further mishaps. Finally the three of them stood before the crimson globe. Andris and Zalathorm were still there. The jordain stood off to one side, watching intently as the king knelt before the shining artifact. Zalathorm rose and faced the newcomers.
"Akhlaur has returned. He awaits me on the field of battle."
Matteo looked uncertainly from the king to his oldest friend. "Much of Zalathorm's power comes from the artifact,'' he ventured.
"You told me it is impossible to fight evil with evil means," Andris reminded him. "What could be more wicked than leaving these spirits in captivity, when we might be able to free them?"
Zalathorm clapped a hand on the jordain's transparent shoulder. "That is the sort of advice a king needs to hear. Do what you must, and when the task is done, join me in battle." He glanced at Matteo. "When battle is through, I trust you will not mind sharing the honor of king's counselor with another?"
A wide grin split Matteo's face. The king smiled faintly. He stepped forward and gently touched his queen's face in silent farewell, then disappeared.
Andris looked to Tzigone. "What now?"
A whispered tune drifted through the room. Tzigone motioned for silence and listened intently to her mother's voice. The song was ragged, the notes falling short of true and the tone dull and breathy, but Tzigone listened with all the force of her being, absorbing the shape and structure of it.
Enchantment flowed through the song, revealing a subtle web around the glowing gem. Matteo stared at the gathering magic and recognized its source.
There was a defensive shield about the gem that no wizard could perceive or dispel. Someone, somehow, had crafted it from the Shadow Weave.
Matteo's nimble mind raced as he considered the meaning and implications of this. Kiva had studied the crimson star for over two hundred years.