`Will you show me all your castle? I have never seen anything so huge.
Arioch raised an eyebrow. `If that is all…?
`All for the moment.
Arioch smiled.
`Very well (хорошо). Besides, I have not seen all of it myself (кроме того, я и сам не видел его целиком). Come (пойдем).
He placed a soft hand on Corum's shoulder and led him through a doorway (он положил мягкую руку Коруму на плечо и повел его через дверь).
As they walked along a magnificent gallery with walls of coruscating marble (пока они шли по великолепной галерее со стенами из сверкающего мрамора), Arioch spoke reasonably to Corum in a low, hypnotic voice (Ариох рассудительно говорил с Корумом тихим, гипнотизирующим = вкрадчивым голосом;
`You see, friend Corum, these fifteen planes were stagnating (видишь ли, друг Корум, эти пятнадцать плоскостей загнивали;
magnificent [mxg`nIfIs (e) nt] coruscating [`kOrqskeItIN] hypnotic [hIp`nOtIk]
`Very well. Besides, I have not seen all of it myself. Come.
He placed a soft hand on Corum's shoulder and led him through a doorway.
As they walked along a magnificent gallery with walls of coruscating marble, Arioch spoke reasonably to Corum in a low, hypnotic voice.
`You see, friend Corum, these fifteen planes were stagnating. What did you Vadhagh and the rest do? Nothing. You hardly moved from your cities and your castles. Nature gave birth to poppies and daisies. The Lords of Law made sure that all was properly ordered. Nothing was happening at all. We have brought so much more to your world, my brother Mabelode and my sister Xiombarg.
`Who are the others (кто эти остальные)?
`You know them, I think, as the Queen of the Swords and the King of the Swords (думаю, ты знаешь их как Королеву Мечей и Короля Мечей). They each rule five of the other ten planes (каждый из них правит пятью из оставшихся десяти плоскостей). We won them from the Lords of Law a little while ago (мы отвоевали их у Владык Закона совсем недавно).
`And began your destruction of all that is truthful and wise (и вы начали уничтожение всего, что правдиво и разумно).
`If you say so, mortal (как скажешь, смертный).
Corum paused. His understanding was weakening to Arioch's persuasive voice (его понимание ослаблялось убедительным/убеждающим голосом Ариоха). He turned.
`I think you are lying to me, Duke Arioch (думаю, ты лжешь мне, герцог Ариох). There must be more to your ambition than this (у тебя должна быть более серьезное стремление, чем это).
`It is a matter of perspective, Corum (это дело перспективы = это как посмотреть, Корум). We follow our whims (мы следуем нашим капризам). We are powerful now and nothing can harm us (теперь мы могущественны, и ничто не может повредить нам). Why should we be vindictive (зачем нам быть мстительными)?
persuasive [pq`sweIsIv] perspective [pq`spektIv] vindictive [vIn`dIktIv]
`Who are the others?
`You know them, I think, as the Queen of the Swords and the King of the Swords. They each rule five of the other ten planes. We won them from the Lords of Law a little while ago.
`And began your destruction of all that is truthful and wise.
`If you say so, mortal.
Corum paused. His understanding was weakening to Arioch's persuasive voice. He turned.
`I think you are lying to me, Duke Arioch. There must be more to your ambition than this.
`It is a matter of perspective, Corum. We follow our whims. We are powerful now and nothing can harm us. Why should we be vindictive?
`Then you will be destroyed as the Vadhagh were destroyed (тогда вас уничтожат, как уничтожили вадагов). For the same reasons (по тем же причинам).
Arioch shrugged (пожал плечами).
`Perhaps (возможно).
`You have a powerful enemy in Shool of Svi-an-Fanla-Brool (у вас есть могущественный враг в /лице/ Шула с Сви-ан-Фанла-Брул)! You should fear him, I think (думаю, вам стоит опасаться его).
`You know of Shool, then (значит, ты знаешь Шула)? Arioch laughed musically (Ариох рассмеялся мелодично). `Poor Shool (бедный Шул). He schemes and plots and maligns us (он плетет интриги, строит козни и клевещет на нас). He is amusing, is he not (он забавный, не правда ли)?
`He is merely amusing (всего лишь забавный)? Corum was disbelieving (Корум не верил).
`Aye — merely amusing.
scheme [skJm] malign [mq`laIn] amusing [q`mjHzIN]
`Then you will be destroyed as the Vadhagh were destroyed. For the same reasons.
Arioch shrugged.
`Perhaps.
`You have a powerful enemy in Shool of Svi-an-Fanla-Brool! You should fear him, I think.
`You know of Shool, then? Arioch laughed musically. `Poor Shool. He schemes and plots and maligns us. He is amusing, is he not?
`He is merely amusing? Corum was disbelieving.
`Aye — merely amusing.
`He says you hate him because he is almost as powerful as yourself (он говорит, вы ненавидите его потому, что он почти такой же могущественный, как и вы).
`We hate no one (мы никого не ненавидим).
`I mistrust you, Arioch (я не доверяю тебе, Ариох).
`What mortal does not mistrust a God (какой смертный не не верит богу = разве может смертный верить богу)?
Now they were walking up a spiral ramp that seemed comprised entirely of light (теперь они поднимались по винтообразному пандусу, который, казалось, полностью состоял из света). Arioch paused (Ариох остановился).
`I think we will explore some other part of the palace (думаю, мы осмотрим какую-нибудь другую часть замка). This leads only to a tower (эта ведет всего лишь к башне).
Ahead Corum saw a doorway on which pulsed a sign (впереди Корум увидел дверь, на которой пульсировал знак) — eight arrows arranged around a circle (восемь стрел, расположенных по кругу).
