Мор - ученик смерти

           Thecreatureawokefromitspleasantreflectivestuporandsquealed.Theacolyteturnedinhorrortolookattwotinybloodshoteyessquintingdownthelengthofanenragedtrunk,andclearedthealtarinonestandingjump.

           Theelephantwasenraged.Vagueconfusingrecollectionsfloodeditsachinghead,offiresandshoutsandmenwithnetsandcagesandspearsandtoomanyyearshaulingheavytreetrunks.Itbroughtitstrunkdownacrossthealtarstoneandsomewhattoitsownsurprisesmasheditintwo,leveredthetwopartsintotheairwithitstusks,triedunsuccessfullytouprootastonepillarandthen,feelingthesuddenneedforabreathoffreshair,startedtochargearthriticallydownthelengthofthehall.

           Ithitthedooratadeadrun,itsbloodloudwiththecalloftheherdandfizzingwithalcohol,andtookitoffatthehinges.Stillwearingtheframeonitsshouldersitcareenedacrossthecourtyard,smashedtheoutergates,burped,thunderedthroughthesleepingcityandwasstillslowlyacceleratingwhenitsniffedthedistantdarkcontinentofKlatchonthenightbreezeand,tailraised,followedtheancientcallofhome.

           Backinthehalltherewasdustandshoutsandconfusion.Cutwellpushedhishatoutofhiseyesandgottohishandsandknees.

           ’Thankyou,’saidKeli,whohadbeenlyingunderneathhim.’Andwhydidyoujumpontopofme?’

           ’Myfirstinstinctwastoprotectyou,yourMajesty.’