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

water is meant to work magic. Now run along to bed." With a
sigh, Randal did as he'd been told.

Morning came, gray and chilly. Rain fell in sheets across the
courtyard of Castle DounтАФthere would be no sword practice
today. Inside the castle, the great hall was busy and crowded,
but Madoc didn't seem to want the warmth and company.
Randal searched every part of the big, noisy room without luck.

Just before noon, he found the wizard at a turn of the
tower stair. Madoc sat in the niche formed by one of the high,
narrow windows, reading a small leather-bound book by the
light of the gray day outside. No rain blew inтАФthe outer walls
of the castle were more than a yard thickтАФbut the cold wind
made Randal's teeth chatter. He wondered how the wizard
endured it.

Randal asked, "How much longer will you be here?"

The wizard shrugged without turning around. "Until I get
tired of staying or Lord Alyen gets tired of having me,
whichever comes first." He paused. "One more day, I think."

Only one more day, thought Randal. He got a sinking feeling
when he thought of the wizard leaving. Madoc had gone back to
his reading; Randal watched him for a while, and then asked,
"Do wizards have to read a lot?"

"I never met one who didn't," said Madoc.

"Oh," said Randal. Nobody at Castle Doun could read,
except, perhaps, Lord Alyen. "I suppose I could learn."

"Still wanting to be a wizard, are you?"

Randal nodded. "Yes, sir. Will you teach me?"

The wizard closed his book with a sigh. "Stay here at Doun,"
he advised. "You've got a bright future ahead of you."

"You never read my future at all," Randal said. "Walter told
me so."

"Some things," said the wizard, "are clear enough without
needing to look in a puddle of water for the answers. Sir
Palamon thinks you'll do well."

"Maybe I don't want Sir Palamon's future," Randal said.
"Maybe I want one like yours."