"Katherine Kerr - Deverry 11 - The Fire Dragon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kerr Katherine)

The Holy Chronicles of Lughcarn




Sunlight streamed into the tower room and pooled on the wooden floor.
Grey gnomes with spindle legs and warty faces materialized in the warmth
and lolled like cats. Despite his great age, Nevyn felt tempted to join them.
He sat in the chamberтАЩs only chair and considered his apprentice, who was
sitting cross-legged among the gnomes. She turned her face up to the sun
and ran one hand through her blond hair, which fell to her shoulders in a
ragged wave.

тАШSpringтАЩs truly here,тАЩ Lilli said. тАШIтАЩm so glad of it, and yet I dread
summer. You must, too.тАЩ

тАШI do,тАЩ Nevyn said. тАШIt wonтАЩt be long now before the army rides out, and
the gods only know what the battles will bring.тАЩ

тАШJust so. All I can do is pray that Branoic rides home safely.тАЩ

тАШYouтАЩve grown truly fond of Branoic, havenтАЩt you?тАЩ

тАШI have. The prince doesnтАЩt like it much.тАЩ Lilli opened her eyes and
turned to look up at him. You donтАЩt think heтАЩd do anything dishonourable,
would you?тАЩ

тАШPrince Maryn, you mean? What sort of dishonour -
тАШLetting Branno be killed in battle. Putting him in harmтАЩs way
somehow. It sounds so horrid when I say it aloud. I canтАЩt imagine Maryn
doing such a thing, truly. IтАЩm just frightened, I suppose, and itтАЩs colouring
my fancies.тАЩ
тАШNo doubt.тАЩ Nevyn hesitated, wondering if her fear were only fancy or
some half-seen omen. As apprentices so often did, she picked up his
thought,

тАШIтАЩve been meaning to ask you somewhat,тАЩ Lilli went on. тАШYou know
how the omens used to come to me? IтАЩd be sewing or thinking of some
ordinary thing, and then all of a sudden the words would come bursting
out of my mouth?тАЩ

тАШI remember it well.тАЩ

тАШIt doesnтАЩt happen any more.тАЩ

тАШGood.тАЩ Nevyn smiled at her. тАШItтАЩs a common thing, that a person
marked for the dweomer will have some wild gift, but when she starts a
proper course of study, she loses the knack. Later, once you truly
understand what youтАЩre doing, the gift тАвwill return to you.тАЩ