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.Tale and Ferros, however, passed through the gateway and turned to look at the humans."It's just alift," the Hylar said, amused."We have hundreds like this in Thorbardin.How else would you go upand down stairways?"Inwardly, Ariakas groused that a stairway would be just fine with him, but he had already shown toomuch hesitation on the matter.Gruffly he stepped inside, quickly followed by the priestess.The Zhakar pulled a lever, and immediately the platform lurched below their feet, sinking throughthe floor into a shaft that had been bored into the rock.Trying to suppress his nervousness, Ariakaswatched the stone walls appear to rise around them.He listened uneasily to the clanking of chainoverhead."This lift is counterbalanced with another one, not too far away," Tale Splintersteel explained."When this one goes down, that one comes up.If the job is to take something down to the city, thenthere's no need for any power our weight does the job, though the chain rolls through severalbrakes so it doesn't go too fast.""How can it lift cargo up to the ground level?" asked Lyrelee."For that we have the winchmasters," the Zhakar explained."It doesn't move so quickly, but theycan crank a load from the Promenade up to the Keep in a matter of ten minutes or so."Personally, Ariakas didn't think their descent was any too speedy.His heart pounding, he could notbanish the feeling that they had walked into a perfect trap.Then the lift clanked to rest on a solid stone floor, causing them all to lurch unsteadily.A metal doorbefore them rumbled aside, and they stepped into a vast, dimly lit chamber.A vague, fieryillumination spilled into the place from two yawning cave mouths off to their right.Before them,twin rows of columns towered upward from the floor, vanishing into the darkness overhead.At the end of the row of pillars, nearly lost in the shadows, the companions saw a pair of immensestatues.Carved into the shape of hideous beasts, these figures stood with their backs to the cavernwall.Between the trunklike legs of the statue on the right, they saw a large, stone throne, thennoticed a similar seat beneath the statue on the left."The King's Promenade," explained the messenger, indicating the wide roadway between the two rows of columns.Slowly, deliberately, they started down the walk.Ariakas naturally moved into the fore, his brightgem casting a wash of white on the floor before them.The columns to either side and the roadwayto the thrones plainly indicated their route.In one of the thrones Ariakas saw a shrouded, shadowyfigure.The warrior was amused to see the king shrink into his seat as the party moved closer.Ferros and Lyrelee flanked the human warrior, a step or two behind, while Tale Splintersteel and theZhakar messenger brought up the rear.Around them Ariakas sensed a huge number of dark, silentfigures.Several forms stood just within range of his light, and the warrior concealed his surprise ashe saw Zhakar warriors mounted on four-legged lizards.The animals had a dull, unintelligent look,but the sleek sinew in their shoulders and legs suggested both speed and power.They were nobigger than large hounds, though sharp claws on their forefeet indicated that they could be savagefoes in a fight.Yet even these bizarre cavalrymen cringed back when Ariakas swiveled his sword, orlet his haughty gaze sweep over them.His nervousness vanished entirely as he approached the Zhakar king.Ariakas carried the blue bladecasually, the weapon unsheathed but resting easily on his shoulder.With a flick of his wrist he couldbring it down against a target on any side."Kneel when you meet the king!" hissed Tale Splinter-steel as they drew closer to the end of thepromenade.Now Ariakas's light fell on the figure seated in one of the huge thrones.The Zhakar was cloaked butunhooded, revealing a face that was scarred by the ravages of the mold plague.The king's beardwas mostly gone, though several tufts of hair still sprouted from the skin over his jawbone.Helooked bald, though he wore a heavy golden crown that concealed the top of his head."King Rackas Ironcog of Zhakar!" proclaimed a dwarf concealed in the shadows off to the sides."Kneel before the greatness of his royal presence!"Ferros Windchisel stepped to the warrior's side, and then knelt humbly a dwarven warriorshowing respect to the monarch of another dwarven state.Ariakas nodded to Lyrelee on his otherside, and she, too, knelt.Meanwhile Tale Splintersteel all but groveled, prostrating himself on thefloor and crawling to the Hylar's side.Only Ariakas remained standing.He met the flashing eyes of Rackas Ironcog with his own proudstare and then, with regal dignity, leaned forward in a gracious bow.His knees, however, did notbend."Who are you?" demanded the king, nonplussed by the display of confidence."I am Lord Duulket Ariakas, emissary of a powerful queen the mightiest monarch on all Krynn,"he proclaimed grandly."I bring salutations and praise to the esteemed lord of Zhakar!"Somewhat mollified, Rackas Ironcog huffed in his throne.Apparently he was unused to anythingeven vaguely resembling diplomacy.For the first time Ariakas noticed another Zhakar, standing in the shadows beside the throne.Thisone wore a cloak over even his face, which was unusual in the city so far as the human had seen.Also unique was the extensive golden thread embroidered around the fringes of the cloak.Themasked dwarf leaned toward the king, apparently whispering something in his ear."Welcome to my realm," Rackas Ironcog said grudgingly, after a moment's silence.Ignoring anyfurther pleasantries, he spoke bluntly."This is the sword that killed one hundred of my finesttroops?""Aye, Your Majesty," answered Ariakas.Inwardly, he scorned the repulsive monarch, whoobviously knew less about court manners than the lowliest pageboy of Khuri-Khan.Still, he wouldgo along with the charade as long as it suited his purpose."The blade is a gift to me from my queen,and she bid me use it as an instrument of her will.""She is mighty, this queen of yours," replied the king."Now tell me, human why does she sendyou to me?""We have come on a peaceful mission of trade," Ariakas responded."It is a mission that could bringunimag-ined profits into Your Majesty's treasuries, and at the same time form the basis of analliance that will greatly benefit both our peoples." "And you, Tale Splintersteel!" The monarch finally addressed the merchant lord."This matter isimportant enough to cause you to defy ancient tradition, bringing outsiders to the heart of ourrealm?""Indeed, Majesty," replied Tale."After heartfelt consideration I believe the human's suggestions ofprofit are based in fact.He who bears the colored sword has proven himself a fighter and negotiatorof great strength and determination.""Strength and determination.those are admirable traits." The king nodded, scowling."Lord Warrior, will you and your companions accept our hospitality? I shall provide you withchambers in the royal apartments, where you shall have every comfort we can provide.When youhave rested, I invite you to attend my table.Tonight, we shall make the arrangements for trade [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl milosnikstop.keep.pl
.Tale and Ferros, however, passed through the gateway and turned to look at the humans."It's just alift," the Hylar said, amused."We have hundreds like this in Thorbardin.How else would you go upand down stairways?"Inwardly, Ariakas groused that a stairway would be just fine with him, but he had already shown toomuch hesitation on the matter.Gruffly he stepped inside, quickly followed by the priestess.The Zhakar pulled a lever, and immediately the platform lurched below their feet, sinking throughthe floor into a shaft that had been bored into the rock.Trying to suppress his nervousness, Ariakaswatched the stone walls appear to rise around them.He listened uneasily to the clanking of chainoverhead."This lift is counterbalanced with another one, not too far away," Tale Splintersteel explained."When this one goes down, that one comes up.If the job is to take something down to the city, thenthere's no need for any power our weight does the job, though the chain rolls through severalbrakes so it doesn't go too fast.""How can it lift cargo up to the ground level?" asked Lyrelee."For that we have the winchmasters," the Zhakar explained."It doesn't move so quickly, but theycan crank a load from the Promenade up to the Keep in a matter of ten minutes or so."Personally, Ariakas didn't think their descent was any too speedy.His heart pounding, he could notbanish the feeling that they had walked into a perfect trap.Then the lift clanked to rest on a solid stone floor, causing them all to lurch unsteadily.A metal doorbefore them rumbled aside, and they stepped into a vast, dimly lit chamber.A vague, fieryillumination spilled into the place from two yawning cave mouths off to their right.Before them,twin rows of columns towered upward from the floor, vanishing into the darkness overhead.At the end of the row of pillars, nearly lost in the shadows, the companions saw a pair of immensestatues.Carved into the shape of hideous beasts, these figures stood with their backs to the cavernwall.Between the trunklike legs of the statue on the right, they saw a large, stone throne, thennoticed a similar seat beneath the statue on the left."The King's Promenade," explained the messenger, indicating the wide roadway between the two rows of columns.Slowly, deliberately, they started down the walk.Ariakas naturally moved into the fore, his brightgem casting a wash of white on the floor before them.The columns to either side and the roadwayto the thrones plainly indicated their route.In one of the thrones Ariakas saw a shrouded, shadowyfigure.The warrior was amused to see the king shrink into his seat as the party moved closer.Ferros and Lyrelee flanked the human warrior, a step or two behind, while Tale Splintersteel and theZhakar messenger brought up the rear.Around them Ariakas sensed a huge number of dark, silentfigures.Several forms stood just within range of his light, and the warrior concealed his surprise ashe saw Zhakar warriors mounted on four-legged lizards.The animals had a dull, unintelligent look,but the sleek sinew in their shoulders and legs suggested both speed and power.They were nobigger than large hounds, though sharp claws on their forefeet indicated that they could be savagefoes in a fight.Yet even these bizarre cavalrymen cringed back when Ariakas swiveled his sword, orlet his haughty gaze sweep over them.His nervousness vanished entirely as he approached the Zhakar king.Ariakas carried the blue bladecasually, the weapon unsheathed but resting easily on his shoulder.With a flick of his wrist he couldbring it down against a target on any side."Kneel when you meet the king!" hissed Tale Splinter-steel as they drew closer to the end of thepromenade.Now Ariakas's light fell on the figure seated in one of the huge thrones.The Zhakar was cloaked butunhooded, revealing a face that was scarred by the ravages of the mold plague.The king's beardwas mostly gone, though several tufts of hair still sprouted from the skin over his jawbone.Helooked bald, though he wore a heavy golden crown that concealed the top of his head."King Rackas Ironcog of Zhakar!" proclaimed a dwarf concealed in the shadows off to the sides."Kneel before the greatness of his royal presence!"Ferros Windchisel stepped to the warrior's side, and then knelt humbly a dwarven warriorshowing respect to the monarch of another dwarven state.Ariakas nodded to Lyrelee on his otherside, and she, too, knelt.Meanwhile Tale Splintersteel all but groveled, prostrating himself on thefloor and crawling to the Hylar's side.Only Ariakas remained standing.He met the flashing eyes of Rackas Ironcog with his own proudstare and then, with regal dignity, leaned forward in a gracious bow.His knees, however, did notbend."Who are you?" demanded the king, nonplussed by the display of confidence."I am Lord Duulket Ariakas, emissary of a powerful queen the mightiest monarch on all Krynn,"he proclaimed grandly."I bring salutations and praise to the esteemed lord of Zhakar!"Somewhat mollified, Rackas Ironcog huffed in his throne.Apparently he was unused to anythingeven vaguely resembling diplomacy.For the first time Ariakas noticed another Zhakar, standing in the shadows beside the throne.Thisone wore a cloak over even his face, which was unusual in the city so far as the human had seen.Also unique was the extensive golden thread embroidered around the fringes of the cloak.Themasked dwarf leaned toward the king, apparently whispering something in his ear."Welcome to my realm," Rackas Ironcog said grudgingly, after a moment's silence.Ignoring anyfurther pleasantries, he spoke bluntly."This is the sword that killed one hundred of my finesttroops?""Aye, Your Majesty," answered Ariakas.Inwardly, he scorned the repulsive monarch, whoobviously knew less about court manners than the lowliest pageboy of Khuri-Khan.Still, he wouldgo along with the charade as long as it suited his purpose."The blade is a gift to me from my queen,and she bid me use it as an instrument of her will.""She is mighty, this queen of yours," replied the king."Now tell me, human why does she sendyou to me?""We have come on a peaceful mission of trade," Ariakas responded."It is a mission that could bringunimag-ined profits into Your Majesty's treasuries, and at the same time form the basis of analliance that will greatly benefit both our peoples." "And you, Tale Splintersteel!" The monarch finally addressed the merchant lord."This matter isimportant enough to cause you to defy ancient tradition, bringing outsiders to the heart of ourrealm?""Indeed, Majesty," replied Tale."After heartfelt consideration I believe the human's suggestions ofprofit are based in fact.He who bears the colored sword has proven himself a fighter and negotiatorof great strength and determination.""Strength and determination.those are admirable traits." The king nodded, scowling."Lord Warrior, will you and your companions accept our hospitality? I shall provide you withchambers in the royal apartments, where you shall have every comfort we can provide.When youhave rested, I invite you to attend my table.Tonight, we shall make the arrangements for trade [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]