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

"You do not intend to rest, do you?" Rhys muttered accusingly, shaking his
head in resignation.
Gently Cinhil echoed his headshake. "I told you, there will be time enough
for that." He picked up his scroll again. "Be content, Rhys. You have done what
you felt you should. Be free to go now. I believe you have business with my sons
before this night's work begins."
Jaws tightening with emotion, Rhys gazed across at the king for several
seconds, then sketched a stiff nod of agreement and reached into his belt
pouch to withdraw a folded packet of parchment sealed with green wax.
"If you refer to thisтАФyes. I wished to be certain that this is what you want."
"A sleeping potion?"
 "Among other things. Working with children, it is more certain than
theтАФtechniques we used before your own assumption of power."
"What other things are in it?" Cinhil whispered, not meeting Rhys' eyes.
"Tell me. They are my sons. I have a right to know."
"Would the names mean anythingтАФ?"
"Yes!" Cinhil insisted, turning his grey gaze on Rhys with an intensity the
Healer had not expected. "I have read. I wish to know!"
With a slight shrug and a nod of his head, Rhys held the packet in his palm
and returned Cinhil's gaze.
"Cinquefoil and poppy extract, for sleep. Wolfbane, a very minute amount,
for Vision. And another drug known only to those of Healer's training. I may not
name it for you, but I promise it will not harm them. It will place them in a
receptive state of mind for what must be done. You were given the same
substance the night of your power assumption, though you may not remember
it."
Cinhil's eyes glazed slightly, and Rhys knew that he was casting back in
memory, reliving that night so long ago when a younger Cinhil had stood
entranced in a magical circle and watched them prepare a cup; knew he was
finally making the connection with the rain of white powder which had fallen
from Camber's fingers onto the surface of the magically charged wine, the wine
which Cinhil had then been compelled to drink.
Cinhil blinked and shook his head slightly, and the spell of memory was
broken. With a little shudder, the king glanced quickly at the fire.
"It is a Deryni drug, then?" he whispered.
"Yes."
"But, it works on humans and Deryni, alike?"
"Not precisely alike. But unless activated by the kind of activity we plan
tonight, it acts primarily as a sedative, gentle but insistent. I had thought to
give it under the guise of a physick against colds. I am told that Alroy has been
abed with coughing for much of the week, so we can surmise that the other
boys are similarly inclined toward such ailments, and a physick will not be
suspected. Also, it is safe enough that even if others should taste of it, it will
only make them sleep."
"Tell them you act on my authority, that I am concerned for their health,"
Cinhil said softly. "And if the squires sleep in the boys' chamber, they are to
partake, as well."
"I understand," Rhys said. "What of Tavis O'Neill? I am told by Jebediah that
he and Javan are inseparable these days."
"You are a Healer and his senior," Cinhil said shortly. "Can you not govern