"Irene Radford - Merlin's Decendants 04 - Guardian of the Promise" - читать интересную книгу автора (Radford Irene)

unclean death."
We all gulped back sobs. Then my guardian returned his ullciiiion to me.
"Kcmember, Deirdre, you are not the only one
"" ji
Chapter 1
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┬ж




ugust, Eve of St. Bartholomew's Day, 1572. Fourth year n the reign of James VI of Scotland. Fourth year of
imprisonment of Mary Queen of Scots by Gloriana of England, I lizabeth Regina in her fourteenth year of reign.
Edin-1'iirgh, Scotland.
ARE you sure we should be doing this?" I asked. I Hiithed for Coffa. She butted her head beneath my hand, ┬ж nucr for
attention.
"Don't be a 'fraidy cat," Cousin Betsy scoffed. She looked down her nose at me in disdain. At the great age 'if thirteen,
her body had matured into womanhood. This, i if course, gave her elevated stature in the hierarchy among Mir children
of the household. She assumed that this status hUo nave her increased wisdom.
Her dog, Brenin, or King, lounged at the foot of the
'┬ж i nil ease below the narrow landing where we stood. He was
тАв ulinly chewing, the decorative molding at the base of the
ilitii rail.
Hal charged forward, ever ready to meet any challenge
forth by his older sister. He bent to peer through the
1

hole into Uncle Donovan's private solar. His dog Hel-
ielh, "Mighty Hunter," stood halfway up the staircase
ling at the baseboard for traces of a mouse we had
n earlier.
I he tall, narrow house in the heart of Scotland's capital 1 ied little privacy. But it gave my uncle convenient ac-. to
Holyrood Palace where he attended court as a diplo-Hiiil for Queen Elizabeth of England.
"What do you see, Hal?" Betsy hissed in a sharp "vhiNper.
9
10
Irene Radford
Guardian of the Promise
11
"Da, at his scrying bowl. He's using an ugly crocke, "Not again." I sighed, releasing all of the pent-up tension bowl
and an unpolished agate. He must be truly serious itn my shoulders. ,.
revert to common tools of the Earth," he replied. "Why can't he ever scry for my mother/ ^al poutea.^
"Let me see." Betsy pushed him aside. "Because Martha died. Father can t scry for the: dead
Hal stumbled against the banister. When he righted, I Hctsy said haughtily, as if she could part the veils between
rubbed his back. Betsy's blow had bruised him. ┬ж lenth and life.
_тАЮ┬ж тАЮt
I sensed a cloud of magic rising like a mist around h, Uncle Donovan pressed the base of his palm J^jji"^ and nearly
panicked. Betsy flung her talent about as lih forehead. I almost felt the sharp pain that stabbed him magic had no limits
and no dangers. Since the attack of ti between the eyes.
werewolves last June, I hesitated to use any magic outsit He leaned his head back and removed himself trom me the