"Katherine Kerr - Deverry 01 - Daggerspell" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kerr Katherine)

Hesitantly Macyn came to the doorway and stood watching, his thick pudding face set in concern, his
blunt hands twisting the hem of his heavy linen overshirt. Macyn owned this tavern, where Mama worked
as a serving lass, and let her and Jill live in this chamber out of simple kindness to a woman with a bastard
child to support. He reached up and rubbed the bald spot in the middle of his gray hair while he waited
for the priestess to finish her prayer.

тАЬHow is she?тАЭ Macyn said.

The priestess looked at him, then pointedly at Jill.

тАЬYou can say it,тАЭ Jill said. тАЬI know sheтАЩs going to die.тАЭ
 Jill wanted to cry, but she felt that sheтАЩd been turned to stone.

тАЬShe might as well know the truth,тАЭ the priestess said. тАЬHere, does she have a father?тАЭ

тАЬOf a sort,тАЭ Macyn said. тАЬHeтАЩs a silver dagger, you see, and he rides this way every now and then to
give them what coin he can. ItтАЩs been a good long while since the last time.тАЭ

The priestess sighed in a hiss of irritation.

тАЬIтАЩll keep feeding the lass,тАЭ Macyn went on. тАЬJillтАЩs always done a bit of work around the place, and ye
gods, I wouldnтАЩt throw her out into the street to starve, anyway.тАЭ

тАЬWell and good, then.тАЭ The priestess held out her hand to Jill. тАЬHow old are you, child?тАЭ

тАЬSeven, your holiness.тАЭ

тАЬWell, now, thatтАЩs very young, but youтАЩll have to be brave, just like a warrior. Your fatherтАЩs a warrior,
isnтАЩt he?тАЭ

тАЬHe is. A great warrior.тАЭ

тАЬThen youтАЩll have to be as brave as heтАЩd want you to be. Come say good-bye to your mama; then let
Macyn take you out.тАЭ

When Jill came to the bedside, Mama was awake, but her eyes were red, swollen, and cloudy, as if
she didnтАЩt really see her daughter standing there.

тАЬJill?тАЭ Mama was gasping for breath. тАЬMind what Macco tells you.тАЭ

тАЬI will. Promise.тАЭ

Mama turned her head away and stared at the wall.

тАЬCullyn,тАЭ she whispered.

Cullyn was DaтАЩs name. Jill wished he was there; she had never wished for anything so much in her life.
Macyn picked Jill up, doll and all, and carried her from the chamber. As the door closed, Jill twisted
around and caught a glimpse of the priestess praying over Mama again.