"Andre Norton - Witch World - Lore of the Witch World" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

"Lady, here is food."

She swirled the ribband about her wrist, put out her hands, for
suddenly she was hungry and athirst.

"By your leave, lady." He fitted the handle of a mug into her right hand,
placed a bowl on the palm of the other. There is a spoon. It is only ship's
ale, lady, and stew."

"My thanks," she said in return. "And what name do you go by, ship's
man?"

"Rothar, lady. I am a blank shield and no real seaman. But since I know
no trade but war, one venture is nigh as good as another."

"Yet of this venture you have some doubts." She had set the mug on the
deck, kept upright between her worn sandals. Now she seized his hand,
held it to read. It seemed to Dairine that she must not let this opportunity
of learning more of Vidruth's followers go, and she sensed that this Rothar
was not of the same ilk as Wak.

"Lady"тАФhis voice was very low and swiftтАФ"they say that you have
knowledge of herb craft. Why then has Vidruth not taken you to the
captain that you may learn what strange, swift illness struck him down?"

There was youth in the hand Dairine held and not, she believed, any
desire to deceive.

"Where lies the captain?" she asked in as low a voice. "In his cabin. He
is fevered and raves. It is as if he has come under some ensorcelment
andтАФ"

"Rothar!" From the door, another voice sharp as an order. The hand
she held jerked free from hers. But not before she had felt the spring of
fear.

"I promised no man shall trouble you. Has this cub been at such
tricks?" Vidruth demanded.

"Not so," Dairine was surprised her voice remained so steady. "He has
been most kind in bringing me food and drink, both of which I needed."

"And having done soтАФout!" Vidruth commanded. "Now"тАФshe heard
the door close behind the otherтАФ"what have you learned, girl, from this
piece of silk?"

"I have had but a little time, lord. Give me more. I must study it."

"See that you do" was his order as he also departed. He did not come
again, nor did Rothar ever once more bring her food. She thought, though,