Терри Брукс - Jarka Ruus

• Название: Jarka Ruus
• Автор: Терри Брукс
• Жанр: Фэнтези

High Druid of Shannara. More than a quarter of a century after The Sword of Shannara carved out its place in the pantheon of great epic fantasy, the magic of Terry Brooks's New York Times bestselling saga burns as brightly as ever. Three complete series have chronicled the ever–unfolding history of Shannara. But more stories are still to be told–and new adventures have yet to be undertaken. Book One of High Druid of Shannara invites both the faithful longtime reader and the curious newcomer to take the first step on the next extraordinary quest. Twenty years have passed since Grianne Ohmsford denounced her former life as the dreaded Ilse Witch–saved by the love of her brother, the magic of the Sword of Shannara, and the destruction of her evil mentor, the Morgawr. Now, fulfilling the destiny predicted for her, she has established the Third Druid Council, and dedicated herself to its goals of peace, harmony among the races, and defense of the Four Lands. But the political intrigue, secret treachery, and sinister deeds that have haunted Druid history for generations continue to thrive.

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He reached out a hand and guided Pen to the forefront. «Penderrin Ohmsford, this is Ahren Elessedil. You might have heard your father speak of him.»

«Ah, young Pen!» the Elf greeted enthusiastically, shaking his hand, as well. «I haven't seen you since you were too tiny to walk. You probably don't remember me.»

«My father does indeed speak of you all the time," Pen agreed. «My mother, as well.»

«They were good friends to me on our voyage west, Pen. If not for your father's help, I would not have returned.» He gestured toward the girl. «This is my niece, Khyber, my brother's daughter. She visits from Arborlon.»

«Hello again, Khyber.» Tagwen nodded to her. «You have grown up.»

«Not all that far," she replied, her eyes staying on Pen. «That was a spectacular landing," she said. «I didn't think you were going to make it down.»

Tagwen went crimson again, the disapproving frown returning to his bluff features, so Pen jumped down from the decking with a mumbled thanks and quickly added, «Tagwen's right. I was lucky.»

«I think it was more than that," she said. «How long have you been flying airships?»

«Enough about airships!» the Dwarf huffed, noticing for the first time the debris in his beard and brushing it clean with furious strokes. «We have other things to talk about.» He lowered his voice. «Prince Ahren, can we go somewhere more private?»

Elves were gathered all around by then, come out of the trees to take a closer look at the airship and its occupants. Children were already scurrying around the pontoons and under the decking, making small excited noises amid squeals of delight. A few of the braver ones were even trying to climb aboard while their parents pulled them back.

«My cottage is just up the road, Tagwen," Ahren Elessedil said. «We can clean you up and give you something to eat and drink. Khyber makes the best mango black tea in the Westland, a secret she won't share even with me.» He gave the girl a wink. «Leave the skiff. She'll be all right where she is. She's an object of curiosity, but the villagers won't harm her.»

«I don't care whether they harm her or not!» Tagwen groused. «I've had more than enough of her for one day, thanks very much!»

They walked back through the village, Ahren Elessedil leading with Tagwen at his side, Pen following with Khyber. No one said very much, respecting the Dwarf's wishes that they wait until they were in private to talk. Pen was thinking that even though Tagwen had insisted the Elven Prince–turned–Druid could help them in their search for the Ard Rhys, Ahren didn't look up to it. If anything, he looked too soft and frail for the physical demands of such an endeavor. A strong wind might blow him away, the boy thought. But looks were misleading. Ahren Elessedil had survived the voyage of the Jerk Shannara when more than twenty others had not, and he wasn't a Druid then. Tagwen had warned Pen not to judge Ahren too quickly, that what was visible on the surface was not necessarily representative of the man inside. Pen hoped he was right.

«Your father is Bek Ohmsford?» Khyber Elessedil asked him.

He nodded. «Do you know the story from your uncle?»

«All of it. It is the most famous story of this generation. My family doesn't much care for it because they hold your aunt responsible for my grandfather's assassination and Uncle Ahren responsible for helping her escape them and found the new Druid order at Paranor. My brother is the worst. I don't agree with any of them. That's why I'm here. I am training with my uncle to be a Druid. In secret.»

«Your family doesn't know?»

She shook her head. «They think I come here only to visit, so they leave me alone. They don't know the truth.»

He stepped a little closer, lowering his voice. «My parents don't know where I am. They think I am still back in Patch Run.» «What will they do when they find out you're not?» He smiled. «Track me down. They can do it, too. But they won't find out for a while. They're off in the Anar on an expedition, guiding customers hunting and fishing. They won't get back for weeks. So they won't know.»

She smiled back. «Looks like we have something in common.» They reached Ahren's cottage, where the Druid provided Pen and Tagwen with fresh clothes, a bucket of water, and cloths with which to wash up. The pair did so, and returned to find that Khyber had prepared the promised black tea and set out some cheese and bread, as well. Since neither had eaten since early morning, when they had set out from somewhere below the Mermidon, they devoured the food hungrily and drank down the entire pot of tea.

When they were finished, Tagwen rocked back in his seat, glanced across the table at Ahren to be certain he was listening, and said, «I'll tell you why we've come now, but it might not be something you want to share with Khyber.» He gave her a pointed look. «No offense is meant, young lady, but the truth is you might be better off not knowing what we have to say. There is some danger involved.»

The girl looked at her uncle, who shrugged. «I am not much good at keeping secrets from Khyber," he said, smiling. «In any case, she would have it out of me before the sun was down. If you don't mind, I'll let her stay to hear your story.»

Tagwen nodded. «She can quit listening when she decides she doesn't want to hear any more. I'll leave it at that.»

Leaning forward, arms resting on the tabletop, bearded face scrunched up so that he looked as if he was about to undertake the most difficult task of his life, he began his story. He related the events surrounding the disappearance of the Ard Rhys, the dismissal of Kermadec and his Rock Trolls, his own decision to seek help from Grianne's brother, his arrival at Patch Run and meeting with Pen, and their subsequent flight from Terek Molt and the crew of the Druid airship Galaphile. He ended with the unexpected appearance of the King of the Silver River, come out of nowhere to save them from Terek Molt and to tell them of what they must do.

The longer Tagwen's story went on, the more ridiculous it sounded to Pen and the more foolish he felt for coming even that far. What the King of the Silver River expected him to do—even if you accepted that it really was the King of the Silver River and not some malevolent shade—was patently impossible. For a boy with no practical magic to go alone into the Forbidding was so arrogant and pigheaded that no right–thinking person would even consider it. Pen didn't have to know the particulars of what lay behind the Faerie magic that closed away the creatures of the Forbidding to know that he had virtually no chance of surviving a journey inside. He might be able to find and secure the darkwand from the tanequil—though that was debatable, as well—but he saw no way he could reasonably expect to rescue the Ard Rhys once he had done so.

By the time Tagwen had concluded, Pen could not bring himself to look at Ahren Elessedil. He imagined himself in the other's shoes, thinking that he would dismiss this whole business in a heartbeat. The Dwarf had been so certain Ahren would help them, but looking at it now, Pen couldn't see any reason why.

He glanced over at the Druid in spite of himself and found the other staring back.

«This is a terrible responsibility you have been given, Penderrin," Ahren Elessedil said quietly. «I am surprised you found the courage to accept it.»

Pen stared. It was not what he had expected the Druid to say.

«I was just thinking that it might have been a good idea to think it through a little more.»

«Are you worried that you acted in haste? Or that you might have been tricked in some way because it all sounds so incredible?» The Elf nodded. «I remember feeling that way more than once during my time on the Jerle Shannara. I don't think you can avoid such feelings. Maybe second–guessing what you choose to do in difficult situations is necessary if you are to find peace of mind. Blind acceptance of what you believe to be the dictates of fate and circumstance is dangerous.»

«Do you think it really was the King of the Silver River?» Pen asked impulsively.

The Druid pursed his lips. «Your father met him years ago, on his way to Arborlon. He told me of the meeting later; he described it. Not so much how the King of the Silver River looked—that wouldn't matter anyway because he can change his appearance. He described how it happened and how it made him feel. Your experience sounds as if it was the same. Yes, Pen, I think it was him.»

He glanced at Khyber, who was staring at Pen with rapt attention. «Khyber believes it was, don't you, Khyber?»

She nodded at once. «I believe it all. But what are we going to do about it, Uncle Ahren? Sorry, what are you going to do about it?» she corrected herself.

«I told the boy to come here," Tagwen confessed, straightening. «It's my fault we have involved you in this. But I know how you feel about the Ard Rhys, and I couldn't think of anyone else to turn to. I don't think we can do this on our own. We managed to get this far on grit and luck.» He grimaced. «I can't imagine how we will get all the way into the Charnals alone.»

«But we can if we have to," Pen added quickly.

Tagwen shot him a withering glance. «You have more confidence in what we can accomplish than I do, Penderrin.»

Ahren Elessedil smiled ruefully. «Confidence isn't to be discouraged, Tagwen. Nor overrated, Penderrin. Remember—we seek a balance in all things.»

«But you will help them, won't you?» Khyber pressed eagerly.

«Of course, I will help. The Ard Rhys has been both mentor and friend to me; I would never abandon her or those who feel about her as I do.» He paused, looking again at Tagwen. «But much of what you have told me is troublesome. I think there is still a great deal about this business that we don't know. Shadea a'Ru, Terek Molt, and those others are dangerous, but they lack sufficient power to imprison the Ard Rhys within the Forbidding. It took the magic of an entire Elven nation to create the Forbidding in the first place. Nothing passes through the barrier except when the Ellcrys fails. She doesn't do so now, so far as I know.»

He glanced at Khyber for confirmation. «She was well when I departed Arborlon a week ago," she said.

«She wouldn't have declined so precipitously without our hearing about it," Ahren continued. «No, some other force is at work here—something hidden from us. We may not find out what it is until we reach the Ard Rhys, but we must be wary of it.»

He paused. «A more immediate problem is that those who have worked against the Ard Rhys will be searching for Pen. They will not stop simply because he has escaped them once. Perhaps they realize that he has the potential to help her. Perhaps they are simply looking to tie up loose ends. The King of the Silver River helped you escape once, Pen, but he will not be able to help you a second time. You are beyond his reach now.»

«They were searching for my father when they came to Patch Run," Pen pointed out. «Maybe they will forget about me and go after him.»

The Druid shook his head. «They will keep looking. Eventually, they will find you. So we must act quickly. Do you have any idea at all where in the Charnals the tanequil can be found?»

Pen shook his head. «Only what the King of the Silver River told us—that it grows on an island beyond the ruins of a city called Stridegate and that Urdas and Trolls might help us find the way. Nothing more than that.»

«I can use earth magic to try to seek it out through lines of power and air currents," the Druid mused, looking off into the woods, as if he might find the answer in the trees.

«But that approach is uncertain. We need something more definite.»

«What you need," Khyber declared suddenly, «are the Elfstones, the seeking stones.»

Pen knew the stories of the Elfstones, which had been given by the Druid Allanon to Shea Ohmsford to aid him in his search for the Sword of Shannara and then had been held for many years by other members of the Ohmsford family. They had been returned to the Elven people during the reign of Wren Elessedil, an Ohmsford cousin, and remained there until they disappeared with Kael Elessedil fifty years earlier. Ahren Elessedil had recovered them on the voyage of the Jerle Shannara and given them to his brother in exchange for help in forming the Third Druid Council.

Ahren frowned. «What do you know of the Elfstones, Khyber?»

«Enough, from listening to my father and brother. They spoke of them often, before my father's death, usually when they thought I couldn't hear. They believed the Stones could be used as a weapon against the Federation.»

The Druid thought about it a moment. «Well, I won't deny that the Elfstones would help us. But I don't have possession of them or any reasonable hope of persuading your brother to lend them to me. We will have to find another way.»

«Maybe not.» Khyber reached in her tunic and produced a small pouch. With a determined, almost defiant look, she held it out. «I took them from their hiding place because I wanted you to teach me how to use them. I was going to tell you later, when I found the right way to do so, because I knew you would be angry with me. But I guess I can't wait any longer, so here they are. If you want to be angry, go ahead.»

She thrust them at her startled uncle, who immediately said, «Khyber, you have gone too far.»

Her lips compressed defiantly. «My brother refuses even to look at them since our father died. They serve no purpose being locked away. Besides, I have as much right to use them as any other member of the family. The Elfstones belong to all the Elves. The Elessedils are caretakers and nothing more. Someone has to learn to use them. Why not me?»

«Because you are not King of the Elves and do not have his permission!» Ahren snapped, balancing the pouch in his palm as if weighing the option of throwing it into the trees.

«What will happen when Kellen finds out what you have done? You won't be making any more trips to Emberen!»

Khyber shrugged. «He won't find out. I replaced the Elfstones with pebbles. As I said, he never even looks at them. In any case, that's not what's important. What's important is the Ard Rhys. Uncle Ahren, we can use the Elfstones! We can find the tanequil with their magic! You know we can! Don't you want to help Pen and Tagwen?»

Ahren Elessedil flushed angrily, his composure beginning to slip. «Don't twist my words, Khyber. I know what matters. I also know a great deal more about the use of the Elfstones than you do. They are a dangerous magic. Using them has consequences you know nothing about. Ask Penderrin about his family history. Why in the world did you think I would agree to this? What makes you think you should be the one who knows how to use them?»

«Because no one else dares!» she snapped. «No one but me! If I am to be a Druid, I should know how magic works in all its forms. You teach me earth magic, and that can have consequences, as well. Aren't I careful with the earth magic? Don't you think I would be careful with the Elfstones, too? Don't you trust me? Anyway, things have changed. I have given you the Stones so that you can help Pen and Tagwen. Are you going to do so or not?»

She glared at him, and Pen found himself holding his breath in astonishment. He would never have dared to talk to the Druid that way. Whatever bond she shared with her uncle, it was much stronger than he had imagined. She wasn't afraid of him at all—not intimidated in the least. He risked a quick glance at Tagwen, who seemed equally surprised.