"Marco,.John.-.Tyrants.And.Kings.3.-.Saints.Of.The.Sword" - читать интересную книгу автора (Marco John)

"But I can," the boy insisted. "You just need to let me." He leaned
over her and lowered his voice. "Father need never know. We'll call
it a miracle or something. Just let me try, please."

"No," said his mother adamantly. Her face grew pained. "Don't ever
do itЧnot around your father. He must never know, Alazrian. Never.
Understand?"

Alazrian didn't understand. He didn't know why his mother was
dying, or why such a good woman had endured such a cruel
husband, and he didn't know how heaven could stand to watch
something so unjust. His life was nothing but questions now. And
the one that vexed him most was his secret gift. Watching his
mother wither away, he wanted desperately to use it.

"I have this gift for a reason, Mother," Alazrian argued, careful to
keep his voice low. "You always told me so. Maybe the reason is to
save you."

Lady Calida shook her head. "No, the reason remains a mystery.
And I don't want you to save me." Her eyes grew dim as her
memory called up the recent years. "I welcome death, I think."

"Because of him," Alazrian growled.

His mother merely nodded. There was still a scar on her forehead
where Leth's ring had slashed the skin. Alazrian wanted to touch
the scar and make it fade away. He wanted to heal her ravaged
body the way he had the goat with the broken leg, knitting the
bones with one miraculous touch. And he wanted to heal her
broken soul too, but he knew that damage was beyond his power.
Elrad Leth had cut those scars too deeply for any physician to
reach, even one with magic.

"Listen to me now," Lady Calida ordered. "Don't use it around your
father, you hear?"

"He's not my father," Alazrian scoffed.

"Are you listening? Never around him. Or your grandfather. If they
knew, there would be no peace for you. No peace. You grow up
and get free of them. Find out about your real father and who you
are, and never let them know you're gifted." The effort wearied
Calida, but she kept a steely gaze on Alazrian, insisting that he
listen. "Alazrian?"

Alazrian nodded. "I hear you."

"Swear it." Again she reached out, stopping just shy of his touch. "I