"Duncan, Dave - Impossible Odds v1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

V1 Ц ripped from official book -kud

PROLOGUE

Awaken the Dead

The night was unusually dark. The day had been hot and clear, but
heavy clouds had rolled in after sunset to blot out the stars. There
was no moon. In Chivial such nights were called catblinders.

The guard changed at midnight. In pitch darkness Mother
Celandine, Sister Gertrude, and their escort paraded through the
grounds of Nocare Palace. NocareТs gardens were deнservedly
famous and especially lovely now, at the start of Eighthmoon,
except that they were totally invisible. Alнthough Trudy was catching
enough scents of night-flowering plantsЧstock, evening primrose,
possibly moonflowerЧto tell her what she was missing, the
lanterns carried by the two footmen leading the way illuminated
only the paved path underfoot and mere hints of shrubbery.

The four men-at-arms of the Household Yeomen marching noisily
at the rear she considered an unnecessary precaution, because
any evil-intentioned intruder who glimpsed her and the majestic
Mother Celandine in their voluminous white robes and steeple hats
was likely to run screaming off into the

2 Dave Duncan

darkness, gibbering about ghosts. Besides, one of them was
wearing a talisman that jangled her nerves like a tortured cat. In the
few days since she had arrived at Court she had been appalled by
the number of people who put their trust in such quackery. Good
luck charms would attract bad luck as often as good, because
chance was elemental. Educated people ought to know this. Other
than that, midnight prowling was rather fun. Sour old Mother
Celandine must not be finding it so, for she had barely spoken a
word since they met.

The White Sisters were rarely required to use their conjuration-
detecting skills in the middle of the night. Nighttime security was
normally a male sportЧthe Yeomen guarding the gates and the
grounds, the Blades patrolling the inside of the palaceЧbut now
the King was entertaining an important guest and either he or
someone in his train had been tactless enough to include
conjurements in his bagнgage. Anyone else would have been
reprimanded and made to turn them in, but a Grand Duke had to be
humored. So the White SistersТ help was required, and Sister
Gertrude was the most junior Sister in attendance at Court. Tonight
Mother Celandine would supervise and instruct. Thereafter Trudy
would have the night honors all to herself.