"Kate Forsyth - Eileanan 03 - The Cursed Towers" - читать интересную книгу автора (Forsyth Kate)

"Ye had better hope there's none around who can sense the working o' witchcraft," the sorcerer said
gruffly. "It's a cruel night to be chased out o' town."

She thanked him fervently and left him alone in the snowy night. Inside the inn the townsfolk were
listening with rapture to Dide as he sang.



"Och if my love was a bonny red rose,

Growing upon some barren wall,

And I myself a drop o' dew,

Down into that red rose I would fall."



Then Enit and Nina joined in to sing the refrain, their voices so sweet that Lilanthe felt tears prickle her
eyes.

"Och my love's bonny, bonny, bonny, my love's bonny and fair to see."



"Och if my love was a coffer o' gold

And I the keeper o' the key,

Then I would open it when I lost

And into that coffer I would be."



Those of the children who could not sing so sweetly were accompanying the jongleurs on hand-made
drums and tambourines tied up with brightly colored ribbons. Mor-rell was playing the fiddle, and Gilliane
was accompanying him on a wooden flute the cluricaun had made for her. As the jongleurs sang the
chorus, many among the audience joined in enthusiastically, so the words rang: "Och my love's bonny,
bonny, bonny, my love's bonny and fair to see."

When the song ended, Morrell began to display his tricks with fire as Dide circulated through the crowd
with his feathered cap, listening carefully to the talk of the townsfolk and giving them what news he had of
the court. Lilanthe made her way to his side, her pace hastening when she saw his expression darken.

"They say the new Righ has already set his seed in her belly, which at least shows he is more o' a man
than his brother. Sixteen years it took Jaspar the Ensorcelled to get his wife wi' babe, and they say now it
were naught but a spell that did it at all."

"But this is news indeed!" Dide cried, catching the coins being flung in his cap. "Ye say the new Banrigh is