Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
16. Siege Of The Sacred Mountain
Welittlethoughtyouwouldaskapriceforyourgeneralship,havingoncetakenoathonthewallsoftheArkoftheMysteriesitselfthatalways,comewhatmight,youwouldbeaservantoftheHighCounciloftheClanwithoutfeeandwithouthopeofadvancement.Butthisistheageofbrokenvows,andyouaregoingnomorethantrimwiththefashion.Indeed,brother,perhapsIshouldthankyouforbeingnomoregreedyinyourdemands.”
“Youmaysparemeyourtaunts.You,byself-denialandprofoundsearchintothehighestofthehigherMysteries,havemadeyourselfsomethingwiserthanhuman;Ihavepreservedmyhumanity,andwithititspowersandfrailties;anditseemsthateachofushashisproperuses,oryouwouldnotbecomenowheretome.Ratheryouwouldhavedonethegenerallingyourself.”
“Youmakeawarmdefence,mybrother.ButIhavenoleisurenowtostandbeforeyouwithargument.CometotheSacredMountain,fightmethiswanton,upstartEmpress,andbymybeardyoushallhaveyourNaisasyouleftherasareward.”
“ItisacommandoftheHighCouncilwhichshallbeobeyed.Iwillcomewithmybrothernow,assoonasheisrested.”
“Nay,”saidtheoldman,“Ihavenotiredness,andasforcomingwithme,thereyouwillnotbeable.Butfollowatwhatpaceyoumay.”
HeturnedandsetoffdownthesnowyslopesofthemountainandIfollowed;butgraduallyhedistancedme;andsohekepton,withspeedalwaysincreasing,tillpresentlyhepassedoutofmysightroundthespurofanice-cliff,andIfoundmyselfaloneonthemountainside.Yes,trulyalone
