"Julian May - Boreal Moon 2 - Ironcrown Moon" - читать интересную книгу автора (May Julian)
May, Julian - Boreal Moon 2 - Ironcrown Moon
weтАЩre in this godforsaken spot except Ansel, who brought us here. No one who matters even knows weтАЩre alive! So I say weтАЩre in no
danger. And today my son and I will leave this dreary steading and walk free for hours along the sunny shore without a cranky old witch
dogging our heels.тАЭ
She wrapped the food in a cloth and put it into a basket, together with a long kitchen knife, a leather bottle of mead, and two wooden
cups. There would be plenty of good water from freshets trickling down the cliff face. тАЬThe only question is, will you accompany Dyfi
and me on our holiday, or stay behind and sulk?тАЭ
The maid was hauling on her garments. тАЬItтАЩs not safe, Your Grace! ThereтАЩs others that could find us here besides magickers. Like that
blue fishing vessel that tarried offshore two tennights ago. Dobnelu said the crew peered at the steading with a spyglass! The old woman
was in a rare tizzy about it. It seems that plain eyesight isnтАЩt hindered by her shielding magic. The fishermen could have seen you out by
the byre.тАЭ
тАЬPlease God, they had! For I recognized the lugger as one belonging to Vik Waterfall of Northkeep Port, where my own familyтАЩs castle
lies. And since catching sight of it, IтАЩve thought of nothing but how we might use such a boat to get away from here.тАЭ
тАЬOh, no, Your Grace!тАЭ
тАЬStop calling me that, you stupid creature! The only one here worthy of such an honorific is my son.тАЭ She turned away, and her next
words came through gritted teeth. тАЬAnd IтАЩll see Dyfrig gets the crown he deservesтАж if I donтАЩt die of vexation and melancholy first,
trapped in this loathsome place.тАЭ
The sturdy maidservant persisted in speaking her mind, as was her habit. RusgannтАЩs fierce loyalty had never equated with
submissiveness. тАЬMy lady, you owe it to the lad to keep him secure. To obey High Shaman AnselтАЩs instructions and those of the sea-hag.
Life hereтАЩs boring, IтАЩll give you that, but Mistress Dobnelu and the shaman know whatтАЩs best for you.тАЭ
тАЬLately, IтАЩve had my doubts.тАЭ Maudrayne stared out the window at the desolate grandeur of the fjord and the high tundra above it. The
snow that had blanketed the windswept plateau was finally melted, leaving outcroppings of pink and grey granite and patches of vivid
green grass tinged with the purple, yellow, and white of short-lived arctic wildflowers.
Rusgann sniffed. тАЬI suppose doing housework and taking care of farm animals is a hard life for a highborn lady like youтАФтАЭ
тАЬYou silly thing! ThatтАЩs not it at all!тАЭ
тАЬWell, what, for pityтАЩs sake?тАЭ the maid muttered. тАЬWe have a snug place to stay, plenty of food to eat, and magic to keep your enemies at
bay.тАЭ
тАЬWeтАЩve been here for four years, Rusgann, hardly ever leaving the stone circle. I have only a small child and you and that senile witch for
company, with infrequent visits from Ansel when he can spare us the time. God knows IтАЩm used to northern winters that are eight months
long, but not the isolation we have to endure here in this miserable hovel!тАЭ Maudrayne gestured in disgust at the modest kitchen, which
was neat and clean enough now thanks to her own efforts and those of the maid. тАЬMy familyтАЩs castle at Northkeep is a cheerful place, full
of people. When I lived there we werenтАЩt forced to stay inside during the long winter nightsтАФnot even when the Coldlight Army prowled
the sky. My brothers and cousins and I played in the snow and went visiting and bathed in the hot springs. There was singing and feasting
and games and bards telling wonderful tales. And in summertime we sailed and hunted and fished and gathered berries and went
exploring. This wretched steading might as well be a prison. And Ansel wonтАЩt even tell me how long we must stay here.тАЭ
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