"Katherine Kurtz - Kelson - The Quest for Saint Camber" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kurtz Katherine)

УI suppose thatТs meant to be reassuring,Ф Conall muttered, prodding tentatively with a fingertip. It felt not quite solid, and made his finger tingle, as when an arm or leg went to sleep, but the sensation was not painful.
УPoke a little harder,Ф Tiercel suggested, watching him closely.
Conall complied. His finger encountered more resistance, and a stronger tingling sensation, the farther he pushed it in, but even when he tried with all his strength, he could not quite manage to touch his ring.
УThatТs enough of that,Ф Tiercel finally said, gesturing for him to pull back. УNow IТm going to make a subtle alteration.Ф He held his hand over the domelet for a few seconds, not doing anything that Conall could detect, then blinked and glanced up at Conall again. УNow touch it.Ф
Conall started to obey, but a blue-violet spark arced between the dome and his fingertip with painful consequences before he could even make contact. He gasped as he wrenched his hand away, looking up at Tiercel with only thinly veiled anger as he nursed his wounded finger in his mouth. It was all but blistered at the tip.
УWhat the devil did you do that for?Ф he demanded.
УSo you would have some inkling of what this spell could do,Ф Tiercel said mildly. УNow suppose it were covering an entire room rather than just your ring. Do you remember the protective dome that Kelson and Charissa raised, when they fought at KelsonТs coronation?Ф
УOf course,Ф Conall breathed. УBut they didnТt use ward cubes-did they?Ф
УNo. But some of the principles are the same. Actually, the first version is the more useful for general purposes-and there are variations between.Ф Tiercel passed his hand over the dome again, then turned his palm briefly toward Conall. УNow try it again.Ф
УIs it going to kill me this time, instead of just burning me?Ф Conall asked, still sucking resentfully at his wounded fingertip.
УCome, now. Would I kill you, after all the work IТve put into you in the past year?Ф
Conall only snorted in answer; but after taking a deep breath, he did reach out gingerly to touch the dome again. This time, his finger passed through its misty outline with no more sensation than going through fog. With elation in his eyes, he speared the ring with his fingertip and pulled it out, looking up at Tiercel in triumph.
УGot it!Ф
УOf course. That time, the wards were attuned to you. Now, put it back, and IТll show you how we dismantle the wards. Then IТll let you practice.Ф
Two hours later, Conall had formed and neutralized the wards several times under TiercelТs supervision-though only in the primary, non-lethal mode-and was confident he could now do so without assistance if the need arose.
УHmmm, I daresay you probably could. But thereТs no need to rush things,Ф Tiercel cautioned, when they had replaced the cubes in their pouch and Conall had made none too subtle inquiries about acquiring a set of his own. УPerhaps IТll have you a set by the time you return from the summer progress.Ф
УSo long?Ф
УWell, frankly, I didnТt expect you to master them so quickly. Finding you the right set will take some time.Ф
УCouldnТt I borrow yours? That way, I could practice while IТm away.Ф
УI-donТt think thatТs a good idea,Ф Tiercel replied. УFor one thing, I may need them. For another, it wouldnТt do for someone to find them and deduce what youТve been doing with your spare time. Only a trained Deryni would have any business with a set. Besides, youТre flexing abilities youТve never used before. You have to build up your endurance. IТll bet youТve got a headache just from this afternoonТs work.Ф
Conall nodded grudgingly, kneading the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger and trying te will the dull throb to recede. HeТd been trying to ignore it, but it was centered just behind his eyes.
УI have. It isnТt too bad, though. Not as bad as some IТve had.Ф
УYouТre sure? I can give you something for it, if you like. You neednТt play the martyr, you know.Ф
УI know. But if I take one of your potions, IТll still be groggy at dinnertime. Someone might notice. IТll be all right.Ф
УVery well. Suit yourself. I am pleased with your progress, however. TodayТs gains should make it much easier when we continue with your training. If only weТd had a few more weeks, I feel certain I could have taken you before the Council by Midsummer.Ф
Conall grimaced, but not from his headache. УI know you wonТt want to believe this, coming from me, but under the circumstances, itТs probably best we have to wait,Ф he said. УThe Council isnТt going to like it when we prove that more than one Haldane can hold the Haldane power at a time. And when they tell Kelson, he isnТt going to like it. If he knew, heТd never let me be knighted.Ф
УWhat makes you so sure theyТll tell Kelson?Ф Tiercel asked. УHe isnТt exactly their favorite Deryni right now, you know. If he were on the Council, it would be different, of course, but he isnТt-the more fool, he.Ф
УI still canТt believe he turned down a Council seat,Ф Conall muttered. УI wouldnТt have - not that IТm ever likely to be asked.Ф
Conall cocked his head thoughtfully at his prize pupil as he stashed the cube pouch in his satchel.
УThat may not be as far-fetched as you think,Ф he said quietly. УIf you keep progressing, thereТs no predicting how far you might go.Ф
УAnd wouldnТt that be a feather in your cap?Ф Conall returned, not even blinking at the notion-which startled Tiercel. УYou canТt tell me you donТt have ambitions, too, Tiercel de Claron.Ф
Tiercel shrugged. УOh, I do. But they had included your rather uncooperative cousin Kelson as well as yourself. And if declining the Council seat wasnТt enough, he had to recommend Morgan or Duncan in his place-or Dhugal...Ф
УDhugal!Ф Conall snorted. УWhat does that upstart border bastard know about anything?Ф
Tiercel favored the sour-visaged prince with a wry little smile. УI must assume that you mean the term bastard in the purely pejorative sense rather than the literal one, since the holy fathers of the Church are even now about the business of legitimating young Dhugal.Ф
УHeТs still a bastard.Ф
УIn that his parents were not wed according to the usual rites of Mother Church-perhaps. But a form of marriage was enacted, and both parents were free to marry at the time. ThatТs enough for the king. And at his request, the bishops almost certainly will grant the necessary dispensation.Ф
УA piece of parchment,Ф Conall muttered. УIt changes nothing.Ф
УWhy, one might almost think you were jealous,Ф Tiercel said mildly.
УJealous? Of Dhugal?Ф
УWell, he is of true Deryni lineage, after all, and the kingТs blood brother,Ф Tiercel said pointedly. УThat gives him a few perquisites that mere cousinship and usurped Haldane potentials donТt confer, doesnТt it? DonТt worry, I wonТt betray your secret.Ф
УIТd rather not talk about it,Ф Conall said, turning his face away guiltily.
УNo, I donТt suppose you would.Ф Tiercel stood. УWell, I must be away. YouТre sure you donТt want something for your headache?Ф
УNo. ItТs nearly gone already.Ф Conall swallowed uneasily, fighting down a flush of embarrassment at his outburst. УTiercel, I-Ф
The Deryni lord ducked under the shoulder strap of his satchel, then began drawing on his clammy cloak as he glanced back at Conall.
УYes?Ф
УI-please donТt mind me getting a little hot about Dhugal. I guess I am a bit jealous.Ф He glanced down at his stockinged feet. УI suppose IТm a bit jealous of Kelson, too.Ф
УI know,Ф Tiercel said softly. He laid a comforting hand on ConallТs shoulder until the younger man looked up and managed a shifty, half-hearted smile, then took his hand away.
УYou have much to recommend you for yourself alone, Conall. DonТt let jealousy make you lose sight of that.Ф
УIТll try. Will-will we have time for any more sessions before I leave?Ф
УOne more, perhaps,Ф Tiercel said, Уthough not until after the knighting. YouТre going to be very busy between now and then. And IТd better come to you, rather than the reverse. YouТre going to be under increasing scrutiny-not because anyone suspects anything,Ф he added, at ConallТs flash of alarm, Уbut simply because, since the conferring of knighthood denotes a full coming of age in your rank as prince and knight, people are going to be interested in what youТre doing and how youТre taking the new responsibilities that come with the honor.Ф