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The Wizardwar :: Каннингем Элейн
Страница: 39 из 208Finally, in the very bottom of a deep chest, he unearthed a moldering tome embossed with slashing, angular runes.
His heart danced wildly as he realized the significance of those runes. He strode over to Basel, carrying the spell-book with the same care and repugnance he would show a deadly viper.
"Ilythiiri," he said, handing the book to the wizard. "I have read legends of Halruaa's dark elves, but I never imagined that artifacts, even spellbooks, might have survived so long."
Basel placed the fragile tome on a reading table and began to page through it. After a few minutes, he drew a small parchment roll from his tunic and began to copy the dark elven spells.
"Is that wise?"
The wizard glanced up. "Is it wise to drink snake venom in hope of curing another snake's bite? If the ancestors of drow elves and Crinti bandits can help me counteract what Dhamari has done, I'll hand my entire fortune over to their accursed descendants!"
Matteo thought of Andris, imprisoned for aiding the treasonous Kiva. "Can any good come of evil?"
Basel sniffed and kept copying. "I could stick my head in the sand and pretend evil doesn't exist, but all that would do is present my arse as a convenient target."
"But-"
The wizard glanced up, his eyes sharp. "Do you want to help Tzigone, or don't you?"
As Matteo held the challenging gaze, his own stern conscience mocked him. "I'm coming to realize moral choices are often difficult and seldom clear-cut," he said at last.
Basel grunted. "I’ll take that as a yes. Why don't you keep looking while I copy these spells."
Matteo held his ground, determined to tell the wizard what little he could. "Queen Beatrix will stand trial at the new moon. Did you know King Zalathorm has charged me with her defense?"
The wizard's eyes narrowed. "Yes, I heard. Why do you mention this now?"
"Since we are working together to free Tzigone, it seemed reasonable to ask your advice in this other matter."
"I don't envy you your task," Basel said bluntly. "Some of the artisans who built the clockwork creatures came forward to identify the ruins. Magical inquiry determined that all of these artisans worked for the queen and no one else."
"Yes." This was one of many disturbing facts Matteo's search had turned up.
"Perhaps you can prove Queen Beatrix intended no harm, no treason."
"I'm not sure 'intent' is relevant here. In recent years, the queen has not shown herself capable of logical thought. Also, any defense of this sort will be countered with stories of madmen and their acts of destruction.
His heart danced wildly as he realized the significance of those runes. He strode over to Basel, carrying the spell-book with the same care and repugnance he would show a deadly viper.
"Ilythiiri," he said, handing the book to the wizard. "I have read legends of Halruaa's dark elves, but I never imagined that artifacts, even spellbooks, might have survived so long."
Basel placed the fragile tome on a reading table and began to page through it. After a few minutes, he drew a small parchment roll from his tunic and began to copy the dark elven spells.
"Is that wise?"
The wizard glanced up. "Is it wise to drink snake venom in hope of curing another snake's bite? If the ancestors of drow elves and Crinti bandits can help me counteract what Dhamari has done, I'll hand my entire fortune over to their accursed descendants!"
Matteo thought of Andris, imprisoned for aiding the treasonous Kiva. "Can any good come of evil?"
Basel sniffed and kept copying. "I could stick my head in the sand and pretend evil doesn't exist, but all that would do is present my arse as a convenient target."
"But-"
The wizard glanced up, his eyes sharp. "Do you want to help Tzigone, or don't you?"
As Matteo held the challenging gaze, his own stern conscience mocked him. "I'm coming to realize moral choices are often difficult and seldom clear-cut," he said at last.
Basel grunted. "I’ll take that as a yes. Why don't you keep looking while I copy these spells."
Matteo held his ground, determined to tell the wizard what little he could. "Queen Beatrix will stand trial at the new moon. Did you know King Zalathorm has charged me with her defense?"
The wizard's eyes narrowed. "Yes, I heard. Why do you mention this now?"
"Since we are working together to free Tzigone, it seemed reasonable to ask your advice in this other matter."
"I don't envy you your task," Basel said bluntly. "Some of the artisans who built the clockwork creatures came forward to identify the ruins. Magical inquiry determined that all of these artisans worked for the queen and no one else."
"Yes." This was one of many disturbing facts Matteo's search had turned up.
"Perhaps you can prove Queen Beatrix intended no harm, no treason."
"I'm not sure 'intent' is relevant here. In recent years, the queen has not shown herself capable of logical thought. Also, any defense of this sort will be countered with stories of madmen and their acts of destruction.