"Laurell K. Hamilton - Meredith Gentry 5 - Mistral's Kiss" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hamilton Laurell K)

A tear trembled on the edge of one eye. Abeloec stood there, straight and proud in a way that I had
never seen him. IтАЩd never seen him sober, as he appeared to be now. Clearly heтАЩd drunk to forget, but
he was still immortal and sidhe, which meant that no drug, no drink, could ever truly help him find
oblivion. He could be clouded, but never truly know the rush of any drug.

He finally nodded, and that was enough to spill the tear onto his cheek. I caught the tear on the edge of
the horn cup. That tiny drop seemed to race down the inside of the cup faster than gravity should pull it. I
donтАЩt know if the others could see what was happening, but Abe and I watched the tear race for the
bottom of that cup. The tear slid inside the dark curve of the bottom, and suddenly there was liquid
spilling up, bubbling up like a spring from the dark inner curve of the horn.

Deep gold liquid filled the cup to its brim, and the smell of honey and berries and the pungent smell of
alcohol filled the room.

AbeтАЩs hands cupped over mine in the same way I had held the cup in the vision with the God. I raised it
up, and as AbeloecтАЩs lips touched the rim, I said, тАЬDrink and be merry. Drink and be mine.тАЭ

He hesitated before he drank, and I observed an intelligence in those grey eyes that IтАЩd never glimpsed
before. He spoke with his lips brushing the edge of the cup. He wanted to drink. I could feel it in the
eager tremble in his hands as they covered mine.

тАЬI belonged to a king once. When I was no longer his court fool, he cast me out.тАЭ The trembling in his
hands slowed, as if each word steadied him. тАЬI belonged to a queen once. She hated me, always, and
made certain by her words and her deeds that I knew just how much she hated me.тАЭ His hands were
warm and firm against mine. His eyes were deep, dark grey, charcoal grey, with a hint of black
somewhere in the center. тАЬI have never belonged to a princess, but I fear you. I fear what you will do to
me. What you will make me do to others. I fear taking this drink and binding myself to your fate.тАЭ

I shook my head but never lost the concentration of his eyes. тАЬI do not bind you to my fate, Abeloec, nor
me to yours. I merely say, drink of the power that was once yours to wield. Be what you once were.
This is not my gift to give to you. This cup belongs to the God, the Consort. He gave it to me and bid me
share it with you.тАЭ

тАЬHe spoke of me?тАЭ

тАЬNo, not you specifically, but he bid me to share it with others. The Goddess told me to give you all
something else to eat.тАЭ I frowned, unsure how to explain everything IтАЩd seen, or done. Vision is always
more sensible inside your head than on your tongue.

I tried to put into words what I felt in my heart. тАЬThe first drink is yours, but not the last. Drink, and we
will see what happens.тАЭ

тАЬI am afraid,тАЭ he whispered.

тАЬBe afraid, but take your drink, Abeloec.тАЭ

тАЬYou do not think less of me for being afraid.тАЭ

тАЬOnly those who have never known fear are allowed to think less of others for being afraid. Frankly, I
think anyone who has never been afraid of anything in their entire life is either a liar or lacks imagination.тАЭ