"Glenda Larke - Heart of the Mirage" - читать интересную книгу автора (Larke Glenda)

I blinked. One part of me hoped тАФ with sardonic scepticism тАФ- that the
Oracle's poetry was better than Esme's translation. The rest of me was
appalled by the
content of her lines. How could she know what I had only just learned myself?
I moved, attempting to obtain a better view of the Oracle, but Antonia had a
firm grip on my arm and jerked me back.
Undeterred by my grunt of exasperation, Esme continued:
'With powers to see behind the face,
With ears to hear a lie,
Ligea shall bring victory to this chase,
And deal death to traitors sly.
All power in her wide embrace,
None will again deny
Ligea Gayed her rightful place.'
I was aghast. How could she тАФ or the Oracle тАФ possibly know of my talents?
Acheron's mists, the Oracle couldn't really be percipient, could it?
Legend said so. History gave us records of prophetic verses, written in far
more memorable poetry than this. The religious maintained that the Oracle was
our conduit to the advice of the gods.
I felt sick. Damn it, Antonia was listening as my secrets were spilled from
this silly girl's lips in infantile rhymes...
She droned on, the poetry even more execrable.
'A Legata shall journey back to Tyr, To lay tribute at her ruler's feet;
Wreath'd, feted, granted gifts of gold, Honoured at her nation's desire, Her
tale by poets shall be retold.'
Fortunately, that seemed to be all. Esme stared blankly at the opposite wall
in silence. The Oracle's
murmuring continued, but there was no more translation.
Antonia shook my arm. 'That must be all that is for your ears,' she said.
'Allow me to blindfold you again тАФ'
I jerked my arm away and snapped at her. 'No. No more dulling of my senses.
Show me the way out.'
Her eyes flashed, anger roiling with unexpected intensity. 'The Brotherhood
has no power here that we do not freely concede,' she hissed. 'All who come
before the Oracle are blindfolded. This cavern is part of die Sacred Way, not
a path for the undedicated to know.'
"Very well:' I freed the end of my wrap from my waist and wound it around my
head to cover my eyes. 'Now lead me out.'
She was silent for a moment, then grabbed my elbow and pulled me after her. I
stumbled blindly in her wake for what felt like an age, but was probably no
more than five minutes. As far as I could tell, we traversed the cavern of the
Eternal Flame to some kind of tunnel which ended in steps. We ascended these,
then I heard the scraping sound once more and we were back in the room behind
the sanctum.
I unwound the end of my wrap. Antonia stood before me, glaring. 'With the
Brotherhood behind you, you think you are untouchable. But before the Goddess,
you are no more than each intake of mortal breath. All you are is easily
snatched away, Compeer Ligea.' Her use of my title confirmed her knowledge of
my Brotherhood status, something I preferred to hide from Tyr's highborn. She
added, 'Don't mock the Goddess, or you will live to regret it.'