"Katherine Kurtz - Camber 3 - Camber the Heretic" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kurtz Katherine)

out with his powers to confirm it; he never did.
Shakily, Cinhil lumbered to his feet with an assist from Joram, annoyance
clearly nibbling at the edge of his control. Camber, too, rose, to gaze across at
Cinhil with compassion and expectation. He knew they would not quarrel again
over that issue. On that, the king's mind was made up.
"Thank you for not arguing with me on that," Cinhil said softly. "I have not
much time, and the time I have must be allocated for what is now the most
important thing yet remaining to me." He shifted his attention to Joram.
"Joram, I need not remind you of what happened to me fourteen years ago,
in that hidden chapel of your Michaeline Order." He swallowed painfully and
glanced away for just an instant, then resumed. "IтАФhated you for it thenтАФI
hated all of you. And there are powers which you awakened in me then, the
use of which terrifies me to this day." He clasped his hands and took another
steadying breath.
"But, there areтАФother aspects of those powers which I believe it might be
desirable for a king to have, perhaps the most important of which is the ability
to read the truth in another man's heart, even if he wishes to lie. ThisтАФand the
ability to defend one's self against magical attack, when one is threatened. I
have made little use of these abilities, but IтАФwish for my sons to have the
choice when I am gone."
Joram's expression had not changed as he listened to Cinhil's words, but
Camber could feel the rising tension in his body, and felt his own anticipation
welling in response. In a single, wordless communication, he and Joram
exchanged their plans for how to handle the situationтАФa situation they had
long prayed would come to pass.
Joram drew breath slowly, carefully, weighing the words he-must speak to
the king.
"Do you know what you are asking, Sire?" he asked softly. "What you ask
can be done, but the energy required to do it is considerable. It would also
require your full participation, under the circumstances."
"I am aware of that," Cinhil whispered. "I would wish it, in any case. I would
not have my sons endure such an ordeal without their father nearby to keep
watch over them."
"Sire, there is another aspect which must be mentioned," Joram continued
haltingly. "When we performed this office for you, my father was alive and we
were fourтАФRhys, Evaine, myself, and he. Since you speak thus before His
Grace, do I correctly infer that you wish Father Alister to take my father's
place?"
Cinhil turned his gaze on Camber, almost reluctant to meet the other's eyes.
"Will you do it, my old friend? I know how you feel about direct participation in
such things, but you are aware of what went on that night. You were the
guardian outside the door. I remember you standing there as I passed by, stern
and grim in your harness, naked steel in your hands as you passed us into the
chapel. Will you wield a sword again for me, this time within the confines of a
holy circle?"
"Sire, IтАФ"
"Nay, not 'Sire.' Speak to me as Cinhil, your friend, who needs your aidтАФnot
that poor, beleaguered man who wears the Crown at Valoret. Say that Alister
will help his friend Cinhil to do what must be done, so that his sons may
survive whatever may come in the future when Cinhil, both the man and the