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

demands no less from those who would worship Her.

тАШMy lady,тАЩ Gweniver whispered. тАШTake me as a sacrifice. IтАЩll serve you always.тАЩ

The eyes considered her for a long moment, fierce, gleaming, utterly cold. Gweniver felt the presence
all around her, as if the Goddess stood beside and behind as well as in front of her.

тАШTake me,тАЩ she said. тАШIтАЩll be naught but a sword in your hand.тАЩ

On the altar, her sword flared and ran with bloody colored light, casting a glow upward that turned
the mirror red. The chant stopped. Ardda had seen the omen.

тАШSwear to her.тАЩ The priestessтАЩs voice shook. тАШThat in her service youтАЩll live . . . ,тАЩ her voice broke,
тАШand die.тАЩ

тАШSo do I swear, from deep in my heart.тАЩ

In the mirror, the eyes of the Goddess radiated joy. The light on the sword danced up like fire, then
fell back. As it faded, the mirror darkened to the turning stars, then only to blackness.

тАШDone!тАЩ Ardda clapped her hands together, a boom and echo in the temple.
 The mirror reflected GweniverтАЩs pale, sweating face.

тАШShe has come to you,тАЩ the high priestess said. тАШShe has given you the blessing that many would call a
curse. You have chosen, and you have sworn. Serve Her well, or death will be the least of your
troubles.тАЩ

тАШNever will I betray Her. How can I, when IтАЩve looked into the eyes of Night?тАЩ

Ardda clapped her hands together nine times, measured out three by three. Still trembling, Gweniver
rose and took up her sword.

тАШNever did I think She would accept you.тАЩ Ardda was close to tears. тАШBut now all I can do is pray for
you.тАЩ

тАШIтАЩll treasure those prayers no matter how far I ride.тАЩ

Two more priestesses entered the temple. One carried a silver bowl of blue powder, the other a pair
of fine silver needles. When they saw the sword in GweniverтАЩs hands, they exchanged startled glances.

тАШGive her the mark on her left cheek,тАЩ Ardda said. тАШShe serves Our Lady of the Darkness.тАЩ

Thanks to the provisions theyтАЩd captured from the Boars-men, Ricyn and the others had a good hot
breakfast for the first time in days, barley porridge and salt bacon. They ate slowly, savoring every bite,
savoring even more the temporary safety. They were just finishing when Ricyn heard someone leading a
horse up to the hut. He was on his feet and out in a hurry, with his sword drawn in case the Boar had
sent a spy, but it was Gweniver, dressed in her brotherтАЩs clothes and leading a big gray warhorse. In the
morning sun her left cheek looked burned, it was so puffy red, and in the center of the discoloration was
the blue crescent of the Moon. All three stared unspeaking while she smiled at them impartially.