"Debra Doyle & James D. MacDonald - School of Wizardry" - читать интересную книгу автора (Doyle Debra)

growing louder, unearthly melodies played on instruments
Randal had never heard before. Colored globes and streamers
materialized and danced about in time to the music, weaving
patterns of light up and down the length of the great hall. The
music ended on a final haunting chord, the lights faded away,
and Madoc spoke another word. The torches flamed into life
again.

The men and women in the great hall burst into applause,
but Randal stood motionless, still caught up in the wizard's
creation. A great sense of awe and wonder swept over him,
making him almost lightheaded for a moment. How does it feel,
he wondered, to call something like that out of the thin air?

At the high table Lord Alyen nodded his approval and said,
"You've given us beauty, Master Madoc, and I'd be the first to
call that more than enoughтАФ but these are troubled times. Can
you give us a glimpse of the future as well?"

"Usually," said Madoc, "the future is something better left
unseen, and most prophecies are too obscure to be useful. But
for you and your household, Lord Alyen, I'll do my best." The
wizard looked around the hall. "Could someone fetch me a
bowl? Wide and shallow, if you have one."

Before any of the other squires could move, Randal had
already ducked into the alcove off the side of the great hall.
He went straight for the wooden cupboard that held all the
serving dishes, and pulled out a large platter of dark
earthenware. He carried the platter back into the hall.

"Will this do, Master Madoc?"

The wizard gave the platter a quick glance. "Excellent," he
said. "Hold it for me, would you? There's a good lad."

Madoc opened the leather pouch at his belt and took out
something smallтАФa piece of crystal, Randal thought. Keeping
the small object clenched in his right hand, the wizard moved
his closed fist over the empty dish and began to chant in a
language Randal had never heard.

The platter turned cold in Randal's hands, and a mist
formed above the dark surface. Beyond the wizard, the
candles on the high table flickered and burned blue. Randal
felt a cold wind ruffle his hair. The gray mist thickened and
swirled, and the dish grew suddenly heavierтАФwater filled it up
to the brim.

The candles on the table burned high again. Their