"L. E. Modesitt - Recluce 11 - The Death of Chaos" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

days in the dark until they produced something like magic."
"You have the endless-days part correct, and I'm not that big."
She shook her head. So I am a bit taller than the average Kyphran, who tend to be shorter and
darker than people from the north or from the island continent of Recluce. That didn't make me
that big a person.
"Where is Krystal?"
"The subcommander is meeting with the autarch, and will be here shortly."
"So, why are you here?" I looked down at the varnish-stained cloth in my hand. "I've got to get
back to the wardrobe, or I'll have the demon's own time getting the finish to match."
"Commander Ferrel wanted to make sure that no one disturbed the subcommander."
That didn't make much sense. If Ferrel didn't want Krystal disturbed, why weren't the guards
with her?
"How many for dinner, Master Lerris?" Rissa was still barefoot and wore trousers that looked
more like shorts. I'd given up on correcting her, but I had noticed that she only used the term


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"master" when others were present. Rissa had grown up not far from the burned-out buildings I'd
received from the autarch and rebuilt, but Yelena had rescued Rissa from bandits who killed
Rissa's consort and daughter not long after we moved in. Rissa hadn't spoken at first, but my
uncle Justen- the only true gray wizard in Candar, or perhaps anywhere-had been convinced that
being around Krystal and me would heal her. Besides, at the time, Justen had had his hands full in
rebuilding Tamra's abilities and confidence after her near disastrous encounter with Antonin when
the white wizard Sephya had taken over Tamra's body.
So... I'd done what I could for Rissa, and so had Krystal, and it had gotten to be nice to have
someone else do the cooking and cleaning. That way, I could concentrate on setting up my workshop
and getting customers. Krystal was a good cook, not that she ever had any time for it, being the
chief military trainer and administrator of Kyphros. I still was a bit amazed, when I thought
about it, that Kyphros, like ancient Westwind, was run basically by women. Unlike Westwind, they
didn't run out men or tromp all over them. It just happened that in Kyphros, most of the people
with the ability to govern seemed to be women. That was fine with me, since I never had any
inclinations along those lines.
"He's off somewheres again," snorted Rissa. "Master Lerris... dinner? How many?"
"How would I know?" I turned to Yelena. "How many do you have?"
Yelena frowned gently. "We ate before we left, and they have their rations."
"Would you join us? And why aren't you with the subcommander?" Was Krystal being sent off
somewhere else again?
"Not tonight. The subcommander told me to tell you that the wizard Justen and his apprentice
would be arriving with her."
I took a deep breath. As usual, things were getting complicated. Krystal had been out for the
past eight-day, doing something with the local levies around Ruzor, and I'd hoped to have some
time with her. Now the whole world was arriving. Yelena, who usually joined us, even if her troops
didn't, wasn't going to, and that meant something worse was about to happen.
Yelena smiled gently, understanding my thoughts.
"Five, so far. And make sure we have some ale for Justen."
Rissa shook her head and padded back into the house.
"I've got-"
"-to get back to your finish. I am sure I wouldn't wish to spoil a piece meant for the