Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
10. A Wooing
ButtheEmpresshadnoeyeforonesadlookamongstallthatseaofglowingfaces.Boldlyandproudlyshestrodeoutintothecircle,asthoughshehadbeenthedulyappointedpriestforthesacrifice.Andafterhercameaknotofmen,dressedaspriests,andbearingthevictim.Someofthesewerecreaturesofherown,anditwaseasytoforgivemereignorantlaymen,wonoverbytheglamourofPhorenice’spresence.Butsome,totheirshame,weremenborninthePriests’Clan,andbroughtupinthegrovesandcollegesoftheSacredMountain,andfortheirapostasytherecouldbenopalliation.
Thewoodhadalreadybeenstackedonthealtar-stoneinthedueformrequiredbytheancientsymbolism,andtheEmpressstoodasidewhilstthosewhofolloweddidwhatwasneedful.Astheyopenedout,Isawthatthevictimwasoneofthesmall,cloven-hoofedhorsesthatroamtheplains—amostacceptablesacrifice.Theybounditsfeetwithmetalgyves,andputitonthepyre,where,forawhile,itlayneighing.Thentheysteppedaside,andleftitliving.Herewasaninnovation.
Thefalsepriestswentbacktothefarthersideofthecircle,andPhorenicestoodalonebeforethealtar.Shelifteduphervoice,sweet,tuneful,andcarrying,andthoughthedinofthesiegestillcamefromoverthecity,noeartherelostawordofwhatwasspoken.
Sheraisedherglancealoft,andallothereyesfollowedit.Theheavenwasclearasthedeepsea,agorgeousblue.
