"Katherine Kerr - Deverry 02 - Darkspell" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kerr Katherine)

horoscope is of no more use, but astrology is the art of studying beginnings. Whatever a man begins in his
life - like a son, for instance - is influenced by his stars, even after his death. Now, when I correlated this
horoscope with certain transits, it seemed clear that this summer Tingyr would lose a son through deceit
on someoneтАЩs part. The other brotherтАЩs chart showed that he was in no danger, so obviously Rhodry had
to be the son lost.тАЩ

тАШWell, the yearтАЩs not over yet. It would be easy to send assassins after him.тАЩ

тАШEasy and quite useless. The omens clearly show that he will die in battle. Have you forgotten
everything I ever told you?тАЩ

тАШMy humble apologies.тАЩ
 тАШBesides, the Deverry year ends on Samaen. We have less than a month now. No, itтАЩs as I say. Some
hidden thing is at work here.тАЩ He let his glance linger on the heaped table. тАШAnd yet, it seems that I had all
the information I could possibly need. This may bode ill тАУ for all of us. No, Alastyr, weтАЩll send no
assassins, nothing so hasty until I unravel this puzzle.тАЩ

тАШAs you wish, of course.тАЩ

тАШOf course.тАЩ The Old One picked up a bone stylus and idly tapped another parchment. тАШThis woman
puzzles me, too. Very greatly does Jill puzzle me. There was nothing in the omens about a woman who
could fight Hke a man. I wish more information about her, her birthdate if possible, so that I can scribe
out her stars.тАЩ

тАШIтАЩll make every effort to find it for you when I return.тАЩ

With a nod of approval that set his chins trembling, the Old One shifted his bulk in his chair.

тАШSend your apprentice to fetch me my meal.тАЩ

Alastyr gestured at Sarcyn, who rose and obediently left the room. The Old One contemplated the
closed door for a moment.

тАШThat one hates you,тАЩ he said at last.

тАШHe does? I wasnтАЩt aware of it.тАЩ

тАШNo doubt heтАЩs taken great pains to hide it. Now, itтАЩs fit and right that an apprentice struggle with his
master. How best does a true man learn but by fighting for knowledge? But hatred? ItтАЩs very dangerous.тАЩ

Alastyr wondered if the Old One had seen an omen that indicated Sarcyn was a real threat. The
master would never tell except for a stiff price. The Old One was the greatest expert alive in one
particular part of the dark dweomer, that of wresting hints of future events from a universe unwilling to
reveal them. His personal perversion of astrology was only part of the art, which involved meditation and
a dangerous kind of astral scrying as well. Since he was scrupulously honest in his own way as well as
valuable, he commanded a respect and loyalty rare among dark dweomermen and was, in a limited
sense, as much of a leader as their тАШbrotherhoodтАЩ could ever have. Since his age and bulk confined him to
this villa, Alastyr had struck a bargain with him. In return for the masterтАЩs aid with his own plans, he was
doing such portions of the Old OneтАЩs work that required traveling.