"Rawn, Melanie - Dragon Prince 3 - Sunrunners Fire" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dragon Stories)

So. You're watching.

How could I not? Sioned replied, not allowing Andry's colors to drench hers in brilliant light. Goddess greeting to you, my Lord.

And to you, my lady. I see Mother there, and Hollis, and Riyan.

It was a very odd thing to be seeing Andry's face in the brazier Fire while hearing his voice at the same time in her thoughts. Yes. And Rohan, Ostvel, and your father. All very proud of you, Andry.

And very worried. Just look at Maarken's face! Don't be afraid of this, Sioned. I know what I'm doing. Andry hesitated. IsЧis AlasenЧ

No. I'm sorry, Andry. She saw his face change slightly.

/ should have expected it. Sioned, please help her to not be so afraid of what she is. She'll never find any peace otherwise.

She chose her life, Sioned reminded him gently, and you chose yours.

Yes. Of course. A brief pause. A line furrowed his smooth forehead and something close to suspicion vibrated through his colors. SionedЧwhat is it about your colors tonight? I sense something, I can feelЧ

The sunlight fades here, my Lord, she replied. You'd best return.

YouЧdranath/ Sioned, are you insane?

With a mannered fillip she disengaged from the contact and nudged him back down the weakening rays of light. She sensed his anger at her use of the drug, and a deeper resentment that she could rid herself of him so effortlessly. She caught a glimpse of Pol in his thoughts and the unguarded hope that the son would not be as powerful as the mother. With the drug singing in her blood she could have followed him while maintaining the Fire-conjure simultaneously. It was an intriguing thought, not the least bit frightening. But she had the distinct impression that she ought to be frightened.

Andry had moved closer to the bonfire. No voices or other sounds carried through Sioned's Fire, but she knew Urival had asked him to tell what he had done, who he had spoken with. As the sun went down and they waited for the moons to riseЧearly tonight, which was the reason for holding the ritual nowЧAndry replied, then went round the circle of faradh'im and touched hands with each.

Sioned remembered the day she'had done the same. With Camigwen at her side, joined in this achievement as they had been in almost all other aspects of their training, she had stood before each Sunrunner to receive greetings and smiles as she became one of them.

"Sioned. . . ." Ostvel's half-strangled voice brought her back to Stronghold.

She looked in bewilderment at his pain-clouded gray eyes, then at the Fire in the brazier. Within, called forth from her memory by her dranath-enhanced senses, stood not the present circle of faradh'im at Goddess Keep but a group of people in full sunlight, herself and Camigwen clasping hands with each. Amazed and fascinated, she let the conjured memory last a while longer, feeling not a bit of strain at maintaining it. She looked for the first time in eighteen winters at her beloved friend's face, the exquisite dark eyes and the delicate features, watched Camigwen complete the circle and stand waiting with her, practically dancing with excitement as Andrade came forward to give them their fifth rings.

"SionedЧplease," Ostvel whispered, the words raw with emotion. [

She gave a start and the Fire vanished. "OstvelЧI'm f so sorry, I didn't thinkЧ" I

Riyan was biting his lip, as heart-caught as his father but for a different reason: he had few memories of the mother who had died before he was two winters old.

"Forgive me," Sioned murmured, ashamed.

Ostvel shook his head. "It's all right. JustЧa shock. Seeing her again."

Sioned thanked the Goddess that Alasen was not present, and returned her attention to what she was supposed to be doing. The Fire leaped up again in response to her call, just in time for those watching to see Andry finish the circle and rejoin Urival by the bonfire.

She felt the latter's colors as she had known she would, his moonlight weaving necessary to confirm Andry's Sunrunning. Again it was eerie to see his face as his voice spoke on skeins of moonrays.

He's a little miffed at you for using dranath, you know.

He'll get over it.