"Andre Norton - Witch World High Halleck 7 - Gryphon In Glory" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

to wait there in patience for tidings. You must be a-doingтАФeven as you were
in
Ithdale when we strove to defend it." Her voice faltered. I knew that she
remembered what ties of her own had been broken on that raw, red day when we
had
run from death, our escape so hard bought.
I had become brusque, for memory is sometimes a burden one must throw away
lest
it weigh too heavily, the past against what must be done in the present.
"To you I would give my keys, if those still hung from my girdle. I set you
in
charge of my people, knowing that you will see to their goodтАФ"
She had interrupted me quickly. "Lady, you have kin here. I am not of the
keep
household nor kin to the House. What will my Lady Islaugha say to this? She
has
recovered and no longer wanders in her witsтАФand she is a proud womanтАФ"
"She may be my aunt but she is not of Ithdale," I had pointed out decisively.
"This is our own matter, none of hers. I have told the Lady Abbess that you
are
to be my deputy. No"тАФI shook my head at the open question on her broad,
sun-browned faceтАФ"the Abbess does not know my intentions. I have only said
that
this shall be so should accident or illness strike at me. Your authority will
stand."
There was only one under that roof besides Nalda who knew what lay in my head
or
heartтАФand it was by her contrivance (that of the much revered Past-Abbess
Malwinna) that I rode forth wearing unfamiliar steel and leather, mounted on
a
tough mountain mare, in the dim light of morning. Or would ride when I had
done
with Nalda.
She came closer, her voice a husky whisper. It would seem that she, no more
than
I, wanted to arouse any notice. Now her hand, pale in this dim light, raised
as
if to catch at the reins I had gathered up when I swung into the saddle.
"Lady, you must not go alone!" she said urgently. "I have been burdened with
worry since you told me of what you would do. Outside this dale the country
may
be a trapтАФdanger crawls there. "
"All the more reason that I ride alone, Nalda. One only, who goes with
caution,
can slip between shadows." My hand rose to cup over that which hung about my
neckтАФthe globe of crystal with its imprisoned silver gryphon, my lord's own
gift
to me, and one that wasтАФwas what? I did not truly know; this might be the
time
for me to discover the power of that which I wore, carried, and had once