The Raven's Warrior. Vincent Pratchett

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СКАЧАТЬ THE LIGHT WITHIN THE DARKNESS

       THE VAJRA AND THE MIND

       TO SEE BEYOND

       THE MANNER OF KILLING CROWS

       THE LAST MISSION

       OVER THE WALL

       THE WHORE AND THE CRONE

       FIRE AND STRAW

       CHANGES

       A BARGAIN REFUSED

       ON TWO WINGS

       BOW AND SHIELD

       THE BEGGAR’S BOWL

       REACHING FOR THE RAIN

       CIRCLES OF WOOD AND STEEL

       DRAGONS

       A FATHER’S GIFT

       THE SHAPING OF STEEL

       SELAH

       THE BOW

       THE BLADE OF MAH LIN

       LOTUS AND SWORD

       FULL CIRCLE

       THE IMPERIAL COURT

       THE POX

       FATHERS AND SONS

       THE GUEST

       THE PATTERN IN THE THREADS

       DEPARTURE

       FROM THE EYE

       THE AWAKENING

       THE CAPITAL CITY

       THE GRAND INNER

       EVIL GROWS

       THE TASK AT HAND

       THE MANTIS KING

       A CHALLENGE IN THE SAND

       THE FACE OF THE ENEMY

       A DARK VISITATION

       THE SUNG

       URBAN NIGHT

       THE MORNING LOOMS

       THE POEM OF LI BAI

       THE EMPEROR

       THE TIME DRAWS NEAR

       TWO FAVORS

       THE HOMEWARD JOURNEY

       THE TRUSTED MINISTER

       THE PREY

       THE CAVERN’S BOUNTY

       DRAGON FIRE

       SAGES AND KINGS

       THE HORDE APPROACHES

       ANSWERS

       GATHERING POWER

       THE DIE IS CAST

       AWAY

       THE MEASURE TAKEN

       THE HARE AND THE HOUNDS

       THE APOCALYPSE

       THE VALLEY OF DECISION

       SOUTHERN WINDS

       THE BEGINNING

       EPILOGUE

       HISTORICAL NOTE

       ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

       ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The Beginning

      I soar in effortless circles around the plodding caravan far below me, gently riding the desert winds. It is not the glitter of sunlight on jewels that attracts me, for I do not covet the spoils of war, but crave only my humble share of war’s terrible outcome. The hot rising air is cradled beneath the feathers of my outstretched wings, and carries with it the tantalizing odor of sand and blood. I fly on, driven by primordial hunger and beckoned by the smell of death. Drawn closer now, I am intrigued, for I have found its source.

      I can see him clearly. He is chained behind the cart laden with plunder and pulled by great horned oxen. He jerks and stumbles forward at every tug of the cattle’s methodical steps. Blood is the clothing that covers his body. Wounded and tortured, decay did not wait politely for death’s cue, and the flies have already joined the feast.

      My spirit knows that this cruelty is the work of men, nature is much more merciful. I can see that the dying captive is mad. He raves with agony and fever at every near fall. Nature mercifully has removed mind from body, so his mind knows nothing of its body’s plight or pain, and by nature’s mercy I sense his journey will soon be over.

      But that time has not yet come, and I fly upwards towards the heavens to banish my gloom. As clouds part and early stars move slowly before my eyes, I bite and savor simple concepts, tasting the timeless comfort of universal truths. With pain and blood they are born, they live, create life and take life, and then with blood and pain they leave through Death’s cold gateway. It is Death’s black finger that puts the final punctuation at the end of every man’s life sentence.

      It was then that I heard Death laughing, and when he had finished his chuckle he began to speak. “I have heard the delirious ramblings of countless dying minds. I am amused by yours. Heavy philosophy to hapless metaphor, ‘my black finger puts the final punctuation at the end of every man’s life sentence?’ That is very funny given your circumstance. Fly down with me to see the wretch again.” As we flew lower Death continued to speak.

      “Many times in many battles I came to take him, but he was elusive and agile. Even though I couldn’t reach him, he did my work well and sent me many. Did you know I have whispered to him every step of his journey and still he will not come? Yet even if he does not die along the way, he knows I wait to embrace him at the executioner’s block. Why does he resist?”

      We angled closer to the man as he continued. “I know this unreasonable tenacity is testimony to the power of life and creation, and to feel life’s pulsing strength СКАЧАТЬ