"Mercedes Lackey - Obsidian 02 - To Light A Candle" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lackey Mercedes)

"Of course I came back," Kellen said, patting the young Elven prince's back awkwardly with one of
his goatskin mitts. "And I brought Jermayan back, too."

"He's got someone with him," Sandalon said, with a young child's directness.

Kellen turned, to see that Jermayan had dismounted from Valdien, and was lifting Vestakia down
from the saddle. As he did, her hooded cloak fell back, and her face was exposed.
She grabbed for the hood, but it was too late. Everyone there had seen.

"A Demon! Jermayan brings a Demon here!" Tyendimarquen gasped. All around him, the pavilion
was filled with frightened whispers as the Elves drew back.

Lairamo rushed forward and grabbed Sandalon, the Elven nurse snatching the boy up into her arms
and hurrying back behind Andoreniel and Ashaniel.

"Jermayan, you will explain yourself," Andoreniel demanded, his voice harsh.

Before he answered, Jermayan made sure that Vestakia was steady on her feet - and then, very
deliberately, drew the hood of the cloak back so that all could see her face.

Her skin was the rosy-red of ripe cherries; her short curly hair a darker shade of the same red, and
her ears were as pointed as an Elf's. Pale gold horns sprouted from just above her slanting
eyebrows and curved back over her head. Her eyes were the same yellow-gold as a cat's, with the
same narrow slitted pupils. All these things, everyone knew, were the marks of the Endarkened,
the evil race that was the enemy to all that lived and walked in sunlight. But despite her
appearance, Vestakia was no Demon. And had anyone bothered to look past the mask of her face,
they would have seen her expression - frightened, pleading, open, and desperately hoping for
some kind of acceptance.

"Lord Andoreniel, Lady Ashaniel, I bring before you Vestakia, an ally, without whose help the
Barrier would not have fallen," Jermayan said evenly, turning to face the other Elves. "She is
without Taint, a fellow-victim of Them, and I have promised her refuge here."

Shalkan took a step backward, toward Vestakia. Knowing what was expected of her, Vestakia
placed a hand on his neck, her scarlet fingers sinking into his soft silvery fur. At this, the
murmurings from the gathered Elves broke out anew. Everyone knew that the touch of a unicorn
was death to Demonkind. If Vestakia were truly what she seemed, she should not be able to touch
Shalkan.

But it wasn't enough. Andoreniel was shaking his head.

"No. You have promised that which you cannot fulfill, Jermayan son of Malkirinath. She will not enter
the city."

"Then we're leaving."

For a moment Kellen wondered who'd spoken, then realized it was him. But the words felt right.
The decision felt right. And - all right, he needed a Healer, but surely Idalia would follow them and
fix him, even if they left. Surely -