"Irene Radford - Merlins Descendents 01 - Guardian Of The Balance" - читать интересную книгу автора (Radford Irene)

remained, drifting endlessly inтАФnothing. The acrid smell of sulfur and the musty smell of rotting wood leaves told him
that some of his senses still lived. He wasnтАЩt dead yet. He had a chance to live and return to Deirdre before dawn, as
he had promised. тАЬThe gift of prophecy denies you the privilege of laying with a woman. A fair exchange. You broke
that geas. You belong to me now.тАЭ LleuтАЩs melodic voice resounded through the nothingness as he transformed into
his manlike form. His long nose and shifting eyes reminded Myrddin of the eagle persona the god assumed at will. Like
the Goddess who was Dana, mother of all, as well as Andraste, the warrior queen, Lleu took several forms. Nothing
showed of LleuтАЩs other guise, a meek hare that foretold the future. Myrddin knew how and where to stand to divert a
running hare. But no man could keep an eagle from relinquishing its focus while its prey remained within sight. A
space of light spread around the god to include Myrddin. Solid ground supported them. MyrddinтАЩs body became a
wisp of shadows, clothed in his white Druid robe. The tattoos on his arm glowed through the robe, a grim reminder of
his priesthood and duty to the gods. HeтАЩd not solidify or dissipate fully until judged.
The Worldtree stood at the very edge of this temporary reality, half in the light and half in the abyss. Cernunnos,
horned god of the Underworld, waited for him within the tangled branches of the Tree.
The smell of sulfur ceased biting his senses but lingered. тАЬHe belongs to me as well,тАЭ Belenos stepped into the light. тАЬ
тАШTis my night. I claim a piece of his soul.тАЭ His radiant visage dripped sheepтАЩs blood from the sacrifices offered to him
this night. His black eyes opened into a passage into the abyss. He carried the acrid scent of burning blood and rotten
wood with him. The smells of death.
A round judgment table and four high-backed chairs appeared in the center of the circle of light. Belenos took a seat in
the chair representing EastтАФthe position of his rising power.
Lleu sat to the West. The Worldtree hovered between them. Cernunnos peeked out from the shadowy branches,
patient, knowing that eventually all life passed through his realm.
The Goddess appeared as Dana, draped in flowing robes that outlined Her femininity in maddening secrets, the
persona of love and life perpetual. тАЬHe also belongs to me. тАШTwas at my behest he made himself vulnerable.тАЭ The voice
of all women wove into the tapestry of sound and blinding light emanating from Her. If She had chosen to be
Andraste, the warrior queen clad in golden armor and carrying a flaming sword, Myrddin would have known doom.
Dana gave him hope. She chose the position of North for Her throne.
South remained empty. Myrddin wouldnтАЩt sit there unless they found him innocent. Only then did he realize his
golden torc, the symbol of his manhood and priestly office, didnтАЩt encircle his neck.
тАЬI have duties to fulfill and promises to keep,тАЭ Myrddin protested. тАЬYou chose me to make Arthur a king worthy of
Britain and the gods. I, and I alone, must provide him with a warband ready to follow his lead. You entrusted his
education and training to me. He is still too young to abandon. I must fulfill your tasks.тАЭ
тАЬArthurтАЩs identity remains secret, as we chose,тАЭ Belenos said. тАЬLord Ector and his family protect him and train him as
appropriate to his age and status. The other Beltane sons you have placed into similar foster homes thrive as well.
Arthur will rise to greatness of his own accord without your interference.тАЭ The light radiating from BelenosтАЩ sun-face
nearly blinded Myrddin. тАЬYou can teach him many things,тАЭ Myrddin challenged the god. тАЬBut can you show him how
to give many factions common ground? Can you give him the sense of continuity that will insure those rival factions
agree on his leadership? You chose me for that task. No other can complete it as I can.тАЭ He swallowed his fear as the
fervor of his mission overtook him. тАЬAnd what of the college of Druids? Our numbers decrease every year as the
Christians grow more numerous. The magic and the prophecy you gave me diminishes as well. The followers of the
White Christ will not honor you. I must help fill the empty places in the circle, or the rituals will mean nothing and you
will fade into nothingness,тАЭ Myrddin stated.
тАЬYou should have thought of that before you broke your vow of celibacy,тАЭ Lleu answered. тАЬCelibacy is required of
those who are gifted with visions of the future.тАЭ The South chair began to fade into the mist and shadow of the
Underworld.
тАЬA gift imposed upon me before I was old enough to know what it meant or use it properly. Most people donтАЩt learn to
use their gift until they are adults, have lived a full life, sired or borne children. My gift was imposed upon me before
the age of five.тАЭ
тАЬWe have our reasons for keeping you separate from women. Now you must face the consequences of your
disobedience,тАЭ Belenos chortled. тАЬWhat of Arthur? You chose him as you chose me for special destinies.тАЭ тАЬYour
destiny can no longer be fulfilled by you. We must find another.тАЭ Lleu stood, his eagleтАЩs wings grew and his fingers