"Mercedes Lackey - Valdemar Anthology - Sun in Glory" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lackey Mercedes)

Vkandis Sunlord but also of teaching, mending (both physical and metaphysical), gardening
and, to a certain extent, more than a passing proficiency in healing. But one of the most
pleasant duties of a priest to ReulanтАЩs mind was the time he spent in silent meditation, fixing
his mind on the glory and love of the God he served. It had become his habit, not long after
arriving in Sweetwater and becoming old BeckorтАЩs assistant priest, to spend this time
outdoors, preferably at high noon when the VkandisтАЩ power was the greatest. The place he
set aside for communion with the God was a small clearing in the forest east of the village. It
was there that Reulan turned his footsteps this day, his morning chores done and the
villagers about their daily tasks. He strode along the pathway, his mind stilled, already
slipping into light meditation. The cat, as usual, came along, periodically darting off into the
bushes, then back again.
The day was especially fine, blue sky above and sunlight slanting through the trees.
Reulan rejoiced and marveled at the power of the God that protected the land and its
people. Though apprenticed at an early age to Beckor, which made his parents proud and
additionally relieved them of a mouth to feed, he had always felt close to the God. Somehow
he sensed he had been born to this...that he had been chosen from an early age. Now with
Beckor gone to the God and Reulan no longer apprenticed, his life seemed to have become
all it was meant to be.
The clearing lay just over a rocky rise in the ground. Reulan could see the sunlight
pooling ahead and quickened his pace, eager to arrive at his goal.
:Reulan! Snake! DonтАЩt move!:
For a moment, Reulan thought his heart had stopped. He certainly did, for anyone who
had been born and raised in this area of Karse knew the peril of snakes. Frozen into
immobility, he looked down to see a large rock snake stretched out on the path in a patch of
sunlight, only two steps away. A cold sweat broke out on ReulanтАЩs forehead: the bite of a
rock snake was often fatal. Very carefully and ever so slowly, he backed away, never taking
his eyes from the reptile.
Halfway down the path now and far enough away that the snake posed no immediate
danger, he started shaking, aware just how close to death he had come. But who had called
out his name? Who had warned him?
The cat rubbed up against his leg and sat down.
:Well,: a voice said inside his head. :The least you could do is thank me.:
Reulan stared at the cat, feeling his mouth drop open.
:And close your mouth before you catch flies,: the cat advised, cocking his head and
twitching his tail around his front paws.
A talking cat! Knees suddenly weak, Reulan glanced around, very carefully this time,
for a place to sit that was not already occupied by a snake. Sinking down on a small
boulder, he stared at the cat, his pulse racing. He had heard old grandmother tales about
talking beasts-birds, horses, cats-creatures larger than normal that could speak
mind-to-mind, but he had always considered these tales a fine way to while away the long
hours of a winter night, not truth. But now...
Reulan swallowed heavily. тАЬYou talk!тАЭ he finally got out when he had gained control of
his voice.
 :ItтАЩs fortunate for you that I do,: the cat retorted, but Reulan sensed a smile. :And since
weтАЩre now on speaking terms, you may call me Khar.:
Khar? Certainly no name of any cat he had ever known-certainly not Boots, Patches,
Puss or any of the other descriptive appellations people gave their cats.
тАЬBut...how...I mean, youтАЩre speaking to me like...like...тАЭ
:A person?: And this time Reulan was certain he heard a laugh. :We all have our
burdens to bear. And yours, sun-priest, is rudeness. You still havenтАЩt thanked me.: