"Recluce - 07 - The Chaos Balance" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

lower level.
аа Still carrying Dyliess, Nylan made his way down the stone stairs into
the warmth below. Turning away from the heat of the kitchen, where
Blynnal and her crew labored, Nylan found Ayrlyn in the corner of the
lowest-level room in the tower- in the corner of the woodworking area,
sitting on a stool and practicing chords on her lutar. She was not
singing, and her eyes were puffy.
аа "I kept looking for you," he said, shifting Dyliess.
аа "Why?" she asked.
аа "Because I wanted to talk to you."
аа "Ouuuu," mimicked Dyliess.
аа "There's nothing to talk about."
аа "Yes, there is."
аа "What?" Ayrlyn's voice was flat.
аа "What about last night? Why? And why wouldn't you come to breakfast?"
аа "Because..." Ayrlyn took a deep breath. "I don't like sharing you, but
I can't do what Ryba did. First, there's no technology left, and, second,
I wouldn't trick you. It's not easy." The healer took a deep shuddering
breath. "Her daughter will be all Istril really ever has, you know? How
could I deny her that? You've saved her life twice, and she worships you,
and it ... it has to be more personal . . ." Tears oozed from the corners
of the healer's deep brown eyes.
аа "What about Weryl?" Nylan shook his head. "I'm missing something. A
lot of somethings." He reached out and took her hand with his left hand,
the free one. "That can wait. I've been thinking ..."
аа "About time..." Ayrlyn swallowed once, twice, then spoke again. "How
long can Istril count on Weryl staying in Westwind with Ryba's distrust
of men? Until he's fifteen or twenty and slips off?" Ayrlyn coughed,
trying to clear her throat. "He is your son. Do you really think he'll
buy all of Ryba's propaganda? Especially with all the legends about you?"
аа "You talk as if I won't be there."
аа "You won't. You and Ryba barely tolerate each other. Everyone sees it,
but no one says anything. Ryba still needs more blades, and you feel
responsible for Dyliess, and Weryl, and Kyalynn. How long can you hang in
there for the children before . . ." The flame-haired healer shook her
head. "Nylan ... you're sweet, but you're dense about some things."
аа "I know. I know." Nylan glanced toward the end of the room where
Murkassa entered, along with two other new guards-one called Jiess, Nylan
thought. "Let's take a walk."
аа "Now?"
аа "Now," the smith insisted. "Or as soon as I can hand Dyliess over to
Antyl for a little bit."
аа "Just a moment." Ayrlyn eased the lutar into the case and then set the
case up on one of the empty shelves that had held planks and timber
earlier in the winter. "I'll meet you at the end of the causeway. Don't
be long, or I'll freeze solid."
аа "It's spring."
аа "I'll freeze half-solid."
аа "I'll hurry."
аа Nylan trudged back up to the nursery and looked around, finally seeing