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

used,
without understanding what it could or would do.
"I have seen things, Nalda. Yes, and been a part of them also, that would
make
those raving Hounds of Alizon turn and run, their tails clapped between their
legs, their jaws foaming with fear. I ride alone and when I return, then my
lord
shall be with meтАФthat, or I shall not come at all!"
She stood, her shoulder brushing against my saddlebag, looking up at me with
searching intensity. Then she nodded briskly as I had seen her do many times
on
the trail when we had come to the solution of some problem.
"So be it, my lady. Be sure when you come for an accounting all shall be as
you
wish. May Our Lady of the Harvest Shrine guide your wayтАФfor she is ever
mindful
of those who love true!"
I made my own farewell, but Nalda's invocation of Gunnora, the lady who is
mindful of the pains and pleasures of womenkind, was a warm thing to carry.
In
my heart I blessed her for such an invocationтАФthough she gave it in the very
shadow of the House of the Flames, where Gunnora holds no rule or place.
Or was there one behind the walls who would also give me a blessing strange
to
the learning of the Dames? As I headed out into the first thin light of day I
thought of that otherтАФthe
Past-Abbess Malwinna, her ancient body so well tended by her "daughters," who
perhaps did not even guess what her thoughts might be or where they might
roam.
I had sought her out in misery, coming into her small walled garden, which was
a
place of infinite peace, though there was no peace for me, nor could there be
now. Within me battled feelings that were hot and high. I had thought her
perhaps too old to understand what I felt. She was so near the Dames' idea of
perfectionтАФhow could she find sympathy for me?
Then 'my eyes had met hers and I knew that there was full awareness there.
She
did not weigh me in that long moment we sat so, eyes linked to eyes, or
rebuke
my savage impatience. All she took from me was that hampering self-pity, my
sense of outrage, and so cleared my thoughts to positive ends.
"I will not let it end so!" I had cried out of my hurt and anger, which fed
each
other into a mighty storm.
Still our gaze had locked. She gave me nothingтАФI was young, uncertain. I
wanted
some one to say now, "Do this, or that, Joisan, and all will come right."
Except
there was no one left to so order my life. I stood alone.
That loneliness was the very core of what ate at me.