The Last Ring-bearer - Kirill Yeskov [145]
"That's not so…" Tangorn objected feebly, unable to open his eyes; his tongue was leaden, and he felt like either vomiting or just dying. I wonder if this is what a woman feels after rape?
"Not so?" the Elf grunted. "Perhaps. Still, it seems to me that your little gift stinks!"
The dragon didn't even consider swallowing the bait; all he did was sniff it lazily and drag it back to his lair, just in case, there to lie forever amidst shards of broken armor of those who had dared challenge the monster, kings' crowns, golden chalices from leveled cities, and skeletons of fair maidens… It's over, Tangorn realized: he had lost the most important fight of his entire life. As Eru is his witness, he did everything humanly possible, but at the last moment Fortune turned away from him… him and Haladdin. Does this mean that he was mistaken and the Higher Powers do not approve of their mission?
In the meantime Algali came back to their room – it was time to wrap up. Elandar, having turned into a refined gentleman again, amused his companions with a fresh joke, complained about urgent business forcing him to abandon this pleasant company ("No, Baron, by no means should you accompany me; better spend another ten minutes or so here with Algali"), filled their glasses from a pocket flask ("To our success, Baron! This is real Elvish wine, nothing like the swill they sell at Elfstone, believe me"), drank the dark ruby liquid in a single draught, put the half-mask back on his face and headed out.
Tangorn and Algali sat across from each other in silence for a couple of minutes, the untouched goblets like border markers on the table between them. Dear Elandar is making sure I'm not following him, the baron thought lazily. I wonder if mister junior secretary knows that I can get out of this restaurant any minute through the restroom window? He could, although that's unlikely… The thing is – I don't need it any more.
What a rotten trick did I play on you, lad, he thought suddenly when he met the childishly open gaze of the 'carrier of unsuitable information.' Maybe that's why the Higher Powers have turned away from me? Now it turns out that I swam in that indelible muck – with you and the guy at 4 Lamp Street – for no good reason. I played a trick on you, they played one on me; as usual, the gods have the last laugh.
"You know, I'll sit here for a while longer, but you should make legs as fast as you can, if you value your life. Your Elvish friends have sentenced you to death. I suggest using the restroom window – someone your size will squeeze through with no difficulty."
"Even if I believed you," the youth answered disdainfully, "I would not have accepted salvation from you."
"Really? Why?"
"Because you are an Enemy. You fight on the side of Darkness, so your every word is a lie, and your every deed is evil by definition."
"You're mistaken, lad," Tangorn sighed wearily. "I'm on neither the Dark nor the Light side. If you need a label, I'm on the side of many colors."
"There is no such side, Baron," Algali bit out, and his eyes flashed. "The Battle of Battles is coming, Dagor-Dagorlad, and everybody – yes, everybody! – will have to make a choice between Light and Dark. Whoever is not with us is against us!"
"That's a lie – such a side exists, very much so." Tangorn was not smiling any more. "If I'm fighting for anything, it's for this precious Dagor-Dagorlad of yours to never happen. I'm fighting for the right of those of many colors to remain such without getting dragged into this total mobilization of yours. And speaking of Light and Dark – I suppose your master represents the Light?"
"He's my Teacher, not my master!"
"Fine. Now look at this." With these words he took a piece of white quartz-like stone attached to a silver chain out of his pocket. "This is an Elvish poison detector – ever seen one?"
When immersed into their goblets,