"Mercedes Lackey & Ellen Guon - Knights of Ghosts and Shadows" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lackey Mercedes)

Damn it, Maureen, everything was fine! How could you
walk out on me like this?

He walked to the edge of the haybale rows that were
the seats for the Wood Stage. A group of musicians was
seated on the stage, playing. Eric smiled sadly, recogniz-
ing the tune even before he saw the players. "Banish
Misfortune" . . . yeah, I wish it could.

The reality of the fightтАФand what it meantтАФhit him.
He began to feel empty inside, and lost; like he'd lost
more than just Maureen. Like he'd lost his way and he'd
never find it again. Black despair came down on him, so
palpable that he was mildly surprised that he wasn't sur-
rounded by a dark fog like a cartoon character.

God. I don't know where I'm going, what I'm doing.
Nothing makes sense anymore . . .

All of the Celtic musicians were on the stage, some still
wearing their Faire costumes, others in denim jeans and
sweaters. All his friends, his favorite people. Linda and
Aaron, fiddling like crazy, with Ross and red-bearded lan
pounding out the fast tempo on their Irish war drums.
Judy standing over her dulcimer, the hand-held hammers
moving so fast they blurred, with Jay sitting next to her,
playing tinwhistle.

8 Mercedes Lackey and Ellen Guon

And four of the visiting Northerners, two fiddler girls
looking like a matched set, one with short curly hair, the
other a blonde; off in the back, a serious dark-haired
woman concentrating on an intricate rhythm on a dumbek,
and that blond bearded fellow playing the bouzouki.

Together they sounded better than any professional group
Eric had heard in six years of busking, and the music was
magnetic, drawing him to them. He half-reached for his
flute, then sighed. Not tonight. I can't pretend that noth-
ing's happened, pretend to be cheerful and happy. They'll
know I'm pretending, they'll hear it in my music. No,
they're having fun. Better not to spoil it.

"Hey, Eric, you crazy whistler, come down here!" Judy

called to him.

He forced a laugh and shook his head, calling back to
her over the loud music. "Not tonight, sweetheart, I have