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

which had run with fire on the GoddessтАЩs altar. Then it seemed she felt the ghosts of the dead gather
around her, Avoic, Maroic, Benoic, and last of all, her father, Caddryc, those tall grim men whose lives
had dominated hers, whose pride had summed up her own.

тАШIтАЩll never let you lie unavenged.тАЩ

She heard them sigh at the bitterness of their Wyrd, or maybe it was just the wind in the trees,
because they left as silently and quickly as theyтАЩd gathered. Yet she knew that the Goddess had given her
an omen, just as She had when She blessed the sword.

тАШVengeance! WeтАЩll deal it for the GoddessтАЩs sake, but vengeance weтАЩll all have.тАЩ

Sword still in hand, Gweniver started back to her men, but she heard a twig snap and a footfall behind
her. She spun around and raised the sword.

тАШCome out!тАЩ she snapped. тАШWho disturbs a sworn priestess of the Darktime?тАЩ

Dressed in torn, filthy clothes, their faces stubbled, their hair matted, two men with swords at the
ready stepped out of the underbrush. When they looked her over with narrowed eyes, Gweniver felt the
Goddess gathering behind her, a tangible presence that raised the hair on the nape of her neck. She
looked them over with a cold smile that seemed to appear on her face of its own will.

тАШYou never answered me,тАЩ Gweniver said. тАШWho are you, and what are you doing here?тАЩ
 The dark-haired, slender fellow glanced at the other with a trace of a smile; the redhead, however,
shook his head in a no and stepped forward.

тАШAnd is there a temple near here, my lady?тАЩ he said. тАШOr are you a hermit in this forest?тАЩ

тАШI carry my temple in my saddlebags. YouтАЩve never met a priestess of my rite before, and doubtless
you wonтАЩt again.тАЩ

тАШSheтАЩs got the mark on her face, sure enough,тАЩ the dark-haired man broke in. тАШBut IтАЩll wager she -

тАШHold your tongue, Draudd,тАЩ the redhead snarled. ThereтАЩs somewhat cursed strange about this. Now
here, my lady, are you truly out in this cursed forest all alone?тАЩ

тАШWhatтАЩs it to you if I am? The Goddess sees sacrilege no matter how far from the eyes of men it
happens.тАЩ

When Draudd started to speak, Gweniver stepped forward, swinging the sword point up as if in
challenge to a duel. She caught his glance and held it, stared him down while she felt the Goddess as a
dark shadow behind her and the smile locked on her mouth. Draudd stepped back sharply, his eyes wide
with fear.

тАШSheтАЩs daft,тАЩ he whispered.

тАШI said: hold your tongue!тАЩ the readhead snapped. ThereтАЩs daft, and then thereтАЩs god-touched, you
ugly bastard! My lady, my apologies for disturbing you. Will you give us your GoddessтАЩs blessing?тАЩ

тАШOh, gladly, but you donтАЩt know what youтАЩre asking for.тАЩ All at once she laughed, a cold upwelling of