"Robert Jordan - The Wheel of Time 9.5 - Snow - Prolouge to Winter's Heart" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jordan Robert)

A shield hardly seemed necessary, Her face a mask of terror, Talene trembled and

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JORDAN, Robert - Snow - Prolouge to Winter's Heart

panted as though she had run ten miles at top speed. She still sank into the soft

surface, but without Doesine channeling, it no longer formed itself to her. Talene

stared at the ceiling with bulging eyes, then squeezed them shut, but they popped

right open again. Whatever memories lay behind her eyelids were nothing she wanted

to face.

Covering the two strides to the Chair, Pevara thrust the Oath Rod at the distraught

woman. "Forswear all oaths that bind you and retake the Three Oaths, Talene," she

said harshly. Talene recoiled from the Rod as from a poisonous serpent, then jerked

the other way as Saerin bent over her.

"Next time, Talene, it's the cookpot for you. Or the Myrddraal's tender attentions."

Saerin's face was implacable, but her tone made it seem soft by comparison. "No

waking up before. And if that doesn't do, there'll be another time, and another, as

many as it takes if we must stay down here until summer." Doesine opened her mouth

in protest before giving over with a grimace. Only she among them knew how to

operate the Chair, but in this group, she stood as low as Seaine.

Talene continued to stare up at Saerin. Tears filled her big eyes, and she began to

weep, great shuddering, hopeless sobs. Blindly, she reached out, groping until

Pevara stuck the Oath Rod into her hand. Embracing the Source, Pevara channeled a

thread of Spirit to the Rod. Talene gripped the wrist-thick rod so hard that her

knuckles turned white, yet she just lay there sobbing,

Saerin straightened. "I fear it's time to put her back to sleep, Doesine."

Talene's tears redoubled, but she mumbled through them. "I - forswear - all oaths -