Книга только для ознакомления
. A tall woman, unmasked
and wearing a lovely red dress, stood at the center of the
gathering.
"My higher-ranking initiates," explained the priest, as
we continued to advance. "They have come to meet us here,
as I instructed them earlier."
Erasmoth gestured to the woman. "The high priestess
Kassandry," he said. She stepped forward to meet me.
The woman was, even to my old and weary eyes, a
person of exquisite beauty. Tall and lithe, her gown of
shimmering red silk flowing around her; she moved like
ripples of water across the surface of a pool. Her skin was
pale, almost as if it had been powdered white, and her hair
of deep black contrasted sharply with both her complexion
and gown. She had high cheekbones and deep brown eyes
flecked with green. Her long neck bore a collar that
appeared to be a single bar of gold.
"These are my acolytes, the faithful initiates of my
temple." Erasmoth gestured to the dozen or so masked
figures who remained in their watchful semicircle around
us. They regarded me impassively, their eyes invisible
behind the dark holes in their white masks. "They will be
our escort, as we take you to the entrance to our temple."
"Why are they masked?" I inquired.
"They have all witnessed the glory of my god,"
Erasmoth explained, "but they do not know the full extent
of that glory, or its attendant power. Their masks are a sign
of their endeavors to learn. Only when they have achieved
mastery will they again bare their faces to the world."
"You will give me proof of that power today?" I asked,
striving to contain my excitement
|
