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."Palin shrugged."I am certain that my uncle would understand.We had no choice-"Astinus came to a halt in front of a closed door.He pointed."In there you will find water for washing yourself and a change of clothes.""I thank you, sir, for your thoughtfulness," Palin began, "but my uncle told me to hurry-"He was talking to Astinus's back.The chronicler had turned away from him."I have clothes for you as well," he said to Usha and Tas."Castoffs that we donate to the poor, but they are clean and serviceable.You two, come with me."Astinus said, over his shoulder as he walked away, "I will return in a few moments, Palin Majere.When you are dressed, I will take you to your uncle.Come, Child of the Irda.You, as well, MasterBurrfoot.""Did you hear what he called me?" Tas was saying proudly to Usha as they followed Astinus."Master Burrfoot."Palin supposed Astinus was right.Raistlin would not want to meet a nephew who smelled as if he'dbeen feasting with gully dwarves.Palin opened the door, walked into the room-a small cell, similar to those in which lived theAesthetics, the monks who devoted their lives to the service of the library and its master.Sparsely furnished, the room contained a bed and a washstand on which stood a pitcher of water, awashbowl, and a lighted candle.The end of the bed was lost in the shadows, but a lump wasprobably his change of clothing.Palin barely glanced at the clean clothes.He approached the washbowl, now suddenly eager to stripoff these filthy robes and wash away the muck and the stench that was starting to make him sick tohis stomach.After his ablutions, feeling much better, he bundled the dirty robes in a corner, turned to put on the clean clothes.Palin halted, stared, sucked in a breath.He grabbed hold of the robes, held them close to the light, thinking that his eyes were playing tricks on him.No mistake.No trick, at least not one his eyes played.The robes Astinus had given Palin were black.10The Choice.Palin's first thought was that Astinus was playing some sort of joke.Recalling the passionless eyes, Palin discarded that notion.The black cloth was soft to the touch and felt oddly warm in his hand.Palin's words, spoken to Raistlin in the Tower of High Sorcery, returned forcibly to him.I know the work will be arduous and difficult, but I will do anything-sacrifice anything to gain more power.And was this the answer? Was this the sacrifice his uncle intended?A knock sounded.Before Palin could respond, the door swung open.Astinus stood in the doorway.He held a large book in his arms, a quill pen in his hand."Well," he commanded, "why are you wasting time? Put them on.""I don't understand, sir," Palin said."What does this mean?""Mean? What do you think it means? You have already made your decision.Put them on.""Decision? What decision? I never intended this.I don't want to take the Black Robes.I don't want to use my magic for gain or to harm others or force others to work my will-""Don't you?" Astinus was calm."I should think mat allowing a man to die in your place was a decision worthy of the black robes."Palin protested."Die? In my place? You must have made some sort of mistake.I never-" Hestopped."My god! You mean Steel! But, no! Surely the knights wouldn't put him to death.He must have explained the circumstances to them.There was nothing he could have done.Didn't theybelieve him?"Astinus entered the room.Walking up to Palin, the chronicler opened the great book he held,indicated a line written at the bottom of the page.This day, First Watch rising, Steel Brightblade was executed.He died in place of Palin Majere, whogave his word of honor to return, and broke it."First Watch rising," Palin murmured.He lifted his gaze from the book to Astinus."It's not First Watch yet! It can't be.How-""It is several hours until sunrise," Astinus said, shrugging."Sometimes I anticipate events.It makes the work easier, especially if there is no chance for change.""Where?" Palin demanded.He held fast to the black robes."Where is he to die?""In the High Clerisf s Tower.He dies without honor, stripped of his rank.He will lay his head upon a block of blood-crusted stone.Lord Ariakan himself wields the sword that will sever SteelBrightblade's head from his body."Palin stood silent, unmoving.Astinus continued, relentless."Brightblade's corpse will not be entombed, but will be thrown from the walls, for the carrion birds to feast on.He will be used as an example to other knights.This is what happens to those who fail to obey orders."Images came to Palin: Steel kneeling at his brothers' grave site, Steel fighting at his side in theShoikan Grove, Steel saving his life."But, what does it matter?" Astinus droned on sonorously."The man is evil.He has given his soul to the Dark Queen.He has killed his share of good men, Knights of Solamnia.He deserves to die.""Not in shame and dishonor." Palin stared at the book in Astinus's hands, at the writing on the page."First Watch.It's too late.I would stop the execution if I could, but it's not possible.It takes days to reach the High Clerist's Tower from Palanthas.I could never arrive in time to prevent theexecution." He was ashamed of himself, but he felt a vast sense of relief.A voice whispered in Palin's mind.Robe yourself in black.When that is done, I will open thespellbook ofFistandantilus to you.You will have earned it.A bitter taste, worse than the smell of the sewers, was in Palin's mouth.He ran his hand over theblack cloth.It was soft to the touch, soft and warm, would envelop him, protect him."I've done nothing, Uncle! It's not my fault.I never thought Steel would come to harm because of me.Andeven if I wanted to go, I could never get there in rime."You have made your decision.Proclaim it proudly! Don't lie to yourself, Nephew! the voicewhispered.You can go.You have the ring, Dalamar's ring.The kender gave it back to you.You canbe standing in the High Clerist's Tower before the next beat of your heart.Palin trembled.The wood of the Staff of Magius was suddenly warm, warmer than the black clothin his hand.The ring would take him.He had only to wish it.But what a terrible wish! He looked up at Astinus."You've heard?""Yes.I hear all words, even those of the soul.""Is.what he says true? Could I stop the execution?""If you reached the High Clerist's Tower in time, yes, the knights would halt the execution." Astinus regarded Palin with mild curiosity."They would halt Steel's execution.Are you prepared for me to cross out his name and insert your own?"Palin's throat closed; he could barely breathe.No.No, I am not ready to die.I'm afraid of death,afraid of the pain, the unending darkness, the unbroken silence [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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."Palin shrugged."I am certain that my uncle would understand.We had no choice-"Astinus came to a halt in front of a closed door.He pointed."In there you will find water for washing yourself and a change of clothes.""I thank you, sir, for your thoughtfulness," Palin began, "but my uncle told me to hurry-"He was talking to Astinus's back.The chronicler had turned away from him."I have clothes for you as well," he said to Usha and Tas."Castoffs that we donate to the poor, but they are clean and serviceable.You two, come with me."Astinus said, over his shoulder as he walked away, "I will return in a few moments, Palin Majere.When you are dressed, I will take you to your uncle.Come, Child of the Irda.You, as well, MasterBurrfoot.""Did you hear what he called me?" Tas was saying proudly to Usha as they followed Astinus."Master Burrfoot."Palin supposed Astinus was right.Raistlin would not want to meet a nephew who smelled as if he'dbeen feasting with gully dwarves.Palin opened the door, walked into the room-a small cell, similar to those in which lived theAesthetics, the monks who devoted their lives to the service of the library and its master.Sparsely furnished, the room contained a bed and a washstand on which stood a pitcher of water, awashbowl, and a lighted candle.The end of the bed was lost in the shadows, but a lump wasprobably his change of clothing.Palin barely glanced at the clean clothes.He approached the washbowl, now suddenly eager to stripoff these filthy robes and wash away the muck and the stench that was starting to make him sick tohis stomach.After his ablutions, feeling much better, he bundled the dirty robes in a corner, turned to put on the clean clothes.Palin halted, stared, sucked in a breath.He grabbed hold of the robes, held them close to the light, thinking that his eyes were playing tricks on him.No mistake.No trick, at least not one his eyes played.The robes Astinus had given Palin were black.10The Choice.Palin's first thought was that Astinus was playing some sort of joke.Recalling the passionless eyes, Palin discarded that notion.The black cloth was soft to the touch and felt oddly warm in his hand.Palin's words, spoken to Raistlin in the Tower of High Sorcery, returned forcibly to him.I know the work will be arduous and difficult, but I will do anything-sacrifice anything to gain more power.And was this the answer? Was this the sacrifice his uncle intended?A knock sounded.Before Palin could respond, the door swung open.Astinus stood in the doorway.He held a large book in his arms, a quill pen in his hand."Well," he commanded, "why are you wasting time? Put them on.""I don't understand, sir," Palin said."What does this mean?""Mean? What do you think it means? You have already made your decision.Put them on.""Decision? What decision? I never intended this.I don't want to take the Black Robes.I don't want to use my magic for gain or to harm others or force others to work my will-""Don't you?" Astinus was calm."I should think mat allowing a man to die in your place was a decision worthy of the black robes."Palin protested."Die? In my place? You must have made some sort of mistake.I never-" Hestopped."My god! You mean Steel! But, no! Surely the knights wouldn't put him to death.He must have explained the circumstances to them.There was nothing he could have done.Didn't theybelieve him?"Astinus entered the room.Walking up to Palin, the chronicler opened the great book he held,indicated a line written at the bottom of the page.This day, First Watch rising, Steel Brightblade was executed.He died in place of Palin Majere, whogave his word of honor to return, and broke it."First Watch rising," Palin murmured.He lifted his gaze from the book to Astinus."It's not First Watch yet! It can't be.How-""It is several hours until sunrise," Astinus said, shrugging."Sometimes I anticipate events.It makes the work easier, especially if there is no chance for change.""Where?" Palin demanded.He held fast to the black robes."Where is he to die?""In the High Clerisf s Tower.He dies without honor, stripped of his rank.He will lay his head upon a block of blood-crusted stone.Lord Ariakan himself wields the sword that will sever SteelBrightblade's head from his body."Palin stood silent, unmoving.Astinus continued, relentless."Brightblade's corpse will not be entombed, but will be thrown from the walls, for the carrion birds to feast on.He will be used as an example to other knights.This is what happens to those who fail to obey orders."Images came to Palin: Steel kneeling at his brothers' grave site, Steel fighting at his side in theShoikan Grove, Steel saving his life."But, what does it matter?" Astinus droned on sonorously."The man is evil.He has given his soul to the Dark Queen.He has killed his share of good men, Knights of Solamnia.He deserves to die.""Not in shame and dishonor." Palin stared at the book in Astinus's hands, at the writing on the page."First Watch.It's too late.I would stop the execution if I could, but it's not possible.It takes days to reach the High Clerist's Tower from Palanthas.I could never arrive in time to prevent theexecution." He was ashamed of himself, but he felt a vast sense of relief.A voice whispered in Palin's mind.Robe yourself in black.When that is done, I will open thespellbook ofFistandantilus to you.You will have earned it.A bitter taste, worse than the smell of the sewers, was in Palin's mouth.He ran his hand over theblack cloth.It was soft to the touch, soft and warm, would envelop him, protect him."I've done nothing, Uncle! It's not my fault.I never thought Steel would come to harm because of me.Andeven if I wanted to go, I could never get there in rime."You have made your decision.Proclaim it proudly! Don't lie to yourself, Nephew! the voicewhispered.You can go.You have the ring, Dalamar's ring.The kender gave it back to you.You canbe standing in the High Clerist's Tower before the next beat of your heart.Palin trembled.The wood of the Staff of Magius was suddenly warm, warmer than the black clothin his hand.The ring would take him.He had only to wish it.But what a terrible wish! He looked up at Astinus."You've heard?""Yes.I hear all words, even those of the soul.""Is.what he says true? Could I stop the execution?""If you reached the High Clerist's Tower in time, yes, the knights would halt the execution." Astinus regarded Palin with mild curiosity."They would halt Steel's execution.Are you prepared for me to cross out his name and insert your own?"Palin's throat closed; he could barely breathe.No.No, I am not ready to die.I'm afraid of death,afraid of the pain, the unending darkness, the unbroken silence [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]