"Sara Douglass - The Troy Game 1 - Hades' Daughter" - читать интересную книгу автора (Douglass Sara)

'No!" Ariadne growled, twisting her head to stare at the Crone who now
stood so close to her shoulder. "No. I will not."
'You must," said the Crone. "It is your time."
'And I say it is not," Ariadne said, screwing up her face and moaning as
another crippling contraction gripped her.
'You mustтАФ" the Crone said again, but stopped as Ariadne half turned and
gripped the death's claw resting on her shoulder.
'I will make a bargain," Ariadne said. She glanced at the huddle of mid-wives.
They were bent into a close circle, their attention all on the four or five knives
they passed between themselves. First this one was held up to catch the
flickering light from the single oil lamp in the room, now that, as they assessed
each blade's cutting edge for its worth.
Being simple women, untutored in the mysteries, they were unaware that the
Death Crone stood so close among them, nor that Ariadne conversed with her.
'A bargain?" said the Crone. "But I want you. You. What could you give me to
assuage my grief at leaving you behind?"
'I think we can come to a most singular arrangement," Ariadne said, her
words jerking out in her agony. "I can make you the best proposition you've had
in aeons."
 The Crone was silent a long moment, her bright eyes resting unblinking on
Ariadne as the woman twisted and moaned once more.
'I shall want far more than just 'a singular arrangement,'" the Crone said.
"Far more. What can you give me, Ariadne, Mistress of the Labyrinth?"
The midwives had selected their knife now, and one of them, a woman called
Meriam, had drawn out a whetstone and was sharpening the blade with long,
deliberate strokes.
The frightful sound of metal against stone grated about the chamber, and
Ariadne's eyes glinted.
She spoke, very low and very fast, and the Crone gave a great gasp and
stood back. "You would go that far?" she hissed.
'Will you not accept my bargain?" Ariadne said.
'Oh, aye, I accept. But you will destroy yourself, surely, along withтАФ
'You will have me one day, Crone, but it shall be on my terms, not yours. But,
if you want what I offer, then I beg two favors from you."
The Crone laughed shortly. "And I thought you were to be doing all the
giving."
'I will need to see Asterion."
"Asterion? The brother you helped murder? You would dare?"
'Aye. I dare. Tell me, is he in Hades' realm?"
'Nay. Hades would not have him. You know this." The Crone paused, her
eyes on the midwives who were now slowly rising, their voices murmuring
bitterly about the effort this Ariadne put them to. "Very well," said the Crone. "I
agree. I can send Asterion to you. And the second favor?"
'Push this child from my body that I may live long enough to play my part in
this our arrangement."
'As you wish, Ariadne. But do not fail in your part of our agreement. I would
be most disappointed should youтАФ
'I will not fail. Now, push this child from meтАж ah!"
The midwives stepped close to the straining woman on the birthing mat,
Meriam at their fore, a large knife in her hand.