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

"I am his wifeтАФnot only by ceremony, but by my heart's wish!" I said that
with
defiance. To speak of such emotions here might well be a sin. The Dames of
Norstead put aside all the desires of the flesh when they take their vows.
"Two
ways I can claim himтАФstill we are not one!"
She did not answerтАФmy words tumbled on, growing shriller as I thought upon my
loss.
"We stood against evil, and after that, I thought our true marriage must
come.
HeтАФI knew he was exhausted by the struggle, that he would turn to me
soonтАФperhaps that he must learn a little to be himself after that ill fortune
had passed.
"So I was patient." Now, remembering my words, my clasp on the reins
tightened,
I stared ahead not seeing the road before me. "I tried to let him know by
word
and act that in him I found all that any woman might desire. Marriage between
House and House is not rooted in liking of maid for man, man for maid. We
wed,
or are wed, for the advantage of our kin. But I believe, yes, I must believe
that sometimes a richer life comes from such couplings. I thought it would be
mine!
"You know the marks he bears," I had continued, "the sign of the Old Ones.
When
his enemies seized and would have used me for their foul purposes he alone
came.
Then I understood that such marks meant nothing, he was not one to hold in
awe,
but one to love.
"His hurts were mine, his way my road. I know this will be so as long as that
Flame Eternal burns upon any altar. ButтАФwhat I had to give him was not
enoughтАж"
So I had poured out my hurt, and my hands had been tight upon the englobed
gryphon which was all he had left me, even as I held it now, left-handedly,
for
comfort. The gryphon was the badge of my lord's house, but this talisman was
far
older, a thing out of the Waste where the Old Ones had gone.
I looked down at it. Even in this half light its tiny gemmed eyes glittered,
I
could almost believe that its half-furled wings had moved, that it longed to
break free of the confinement of the crystal. It was a thing of Power, though
neither my Lord or I knew how to use it. Also it was a KeyтАФ
I remember the words of that strange man who had come at the end of my lord's
battle. Neevor, he had called himself. It was he who said that I held a key.
What I had was not enough! My pain caught at me, it had burned away pride.
Pride
of that kind I did not want. I shifted in the saddle, I was beyond the
outermost