"Elizabeth Moon - Gird 02 - Liar's Oath" - читать интересную книгу автора (Moon Elizabeth)

тАЬBut my point,тАЭ Gird said, now very gently, тАЬis that Arranha is the only priest of Esea now in Fin Panir, serving his god
within the High LordтАЩs Hall, and he has not said anything about needing such clothsтАж although your years of labor
should not be in vain, you must know that we are not such worshippers of Esea as your folk were.тАЭ
тАЬEven heтАФeven he should realizeтАФтАЭ AbruptlyтАФLuap wondered if it were all genuine feeling, or a habit known to be
effective with men in powerтАФthe old ladyтАЩs eyes filled with tears that spilled down her cheeks. тАЬOh, sirтАФand I donтАЩt
mind calling a peasant sir in such a caseтАФI donтАЩt care what you call the god: Sun-lord, High Lord, Maker of Worlds, it
doesnтАЩt matter. But he must be respected, whatever you call him, and IтАЩve made theseтАжтАЭ A tear fell, almost on the cloth;
when she saw it, her face paled, and she turned aside. тАЬI must notтАФcryтАФon the clothтАФтАЭ
Eris came forward, and offered her apron, on which the lady wiped her damp face. тАЬShe really believes, sir, that if the
altarтАЩs not cared for, itтАЩll come bad luck to everyone. ItтАЩs no trick, sir, if thatтАЩs what youтАЩre thinking.тАЭ
The old ladyтАЩs hands, dry now, fumbled at the cloth, to fold it away safely. She didnтАЩt look up; her shoulders trembled.
Luap felt a pang of emotion he could not identify: pity? sorrow? mean amusement? Gird sighed, gustily, like his horse.
Luap knew what he wanted to say; he had said it before. You should have worshipped better gods he had told more than
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LiarтАЩs Oath - The Legacy of Gird 02, Elizabeth Moon
one mageborn survivor who wanted enforced tithes to rebuild the SunlordтАЩs lesser temples. Only ArranhaтАЩs arguments
had kept him from forbidding EseaтАЩs worship altogether, although Luap couldnтАЩt see how the god could be responsible
for his worshippersтАЩ mistakes. What he could see were any number of ways to placate the old lady without causing
trouble among GirdтАЩs followers. Give the cloths to Arranha, and let him use them once or twiceтАж the old lady would not
make the journey from her house too often, he was sure. Agree to use them, then notтАФonly she would care, and she
would not know.
But he knew as well that Gird would not take any of these easy ways out. He would refuse her utterly, or agree, and use
the damn cloths, and leave Luap to explain it all. Or Luap and Arranha together, an even less likely combination. Luap
squeezed his eyes shut, wishing he could think of a deity who might be interested in this minor problem, and untangle it
with no effort on his part.
тАЬLuap,тАЭ said Gird. Here it came, some impossible task. He opened his eyes, to find GirdтАЩs expression as uncompromising
as ever in a crisis. One of those, then. тАЬYou will take this ladyтАФmay I have your name?тАЭ
тАЬDorhaniya, bi Kirlis-Sevith,тАЭ said the old lady. Eris spoke up again. тАЬLady Dorhaniya, as a widow, was entitled to revert
to her motherтАЩs patronymic and her fatherтАЩs matronymic, sirтАжтАЭ As if Gird really cared, but he smiled and went on.
тАЬLuap will escort you, Lady Dorhaniya, to confer with Arranha. I presume there is some ritualтАж you do not merely lay
the cloths on the altar yourself, at least not the first time.тАЭ
тАЬN-no.тАЭ Her voice was shaky. тАЬN-no. ProperlyтАФтАЭ Now it firmed; clearly the very thought of propriety and ritual gave her
confidence. тАЬProperly new cloths are dedicated by the priestтАж itтАЩs notтАж itтАЩs not a long ceremony,тАЭ she said, as if fearing
that might make a difference.
тАЬI understand. Then you will need to speak to Arranha, tell him what youтАЩve done, and have him arrange it.тАЭ
тАЬThen you willтАФyou give your permission?тАЭ She looked up, flushed, starry-eyed as any young girl at her first courting.
Gird nodded, and her smile widened, almost childishly, the dimples showing again. тАЬOh, thank you, Marshal-General.
EseaтАЩs lightтАФ noтАФтАЭ and the smile vanished. тАЬIf you donтАЩt honor EseaтАФтАЭ
тАЬLady,тАЭ said Gird, as to a frightened child, as gently as Luap had ever heard him. тАЬLady, I honor all the gods but those
who delight in cruelty; in your eyes, EseaтАЩs light is kindly. May Esea be what you see; you need give me no thanks, but
your blessing I will take, and gladly.тАЭ
She had not followed all that, by the bewildered expression, but she put out her hand, and Gird gave her his. She stood,
then, and said тАЬThen EseaтАЩs light be with you, Marshal-General, andтАФandтАФ then I can rest, when I see the altar dressed
again as it should be.тАЭ




Chapter Two