"Melanie Rawn - Dragon Prince 3 - Sunrunners Fire" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rawn Melanie)

terrified her. Sorin, Chay and Tobin's third son, was far

away, the only family witness to ceremonies that would

tonight create his twin brother Lord of Goddess Keep in
Andrade's place.

The gardens of Stronghold were silent. Princess Milar's fountain ran dry in
autumn. Servants and retainers were within the great keep or the courtyards,
making ready for departures on the morrow. Tobin and Chay were going home to
Radzyn, Maarken and Hollis to their manor at Whitecliff. Ostvel and Alasen
would stay the winter with Riyan at Skybowl to the north before traveling to
Castle Crag, where Ostvel would assume his duties as new regent of
Princemarch. By tomorrow evening Rohan and Sioned would again be alone at
Stronghold, linked to family and friends only by her weavings of light.

A glance at the shadows told her it was time. She rested her open hands on her
knees, staring down at the emerald. "According to ritual, Andry will call Fire
in front of the senior Sunrunners, and Urival will give him the first ring.
Then Air, and the second ring. They'll pause while Water and Earth are
honored, and then he'll have to prove that he can conjure in Fire. At that
point he'll receive the third ring. Just before dusk he'll weave sunlight to
summon the faradh'im resident at Goddess Keep who wear fewer than seven rings.
Once he's done that, the fourth and fifth will be given. With moonrise he'll
demonstrate his ability to weave moonlight, and that will be the sixth ring.
Up until that time, the ritual will be as it has always been."

Chay shifted and frowned, knowing what she was about to say and unable to hide
his disapproval of his son's plans. Sioned gave him a sympathetic look. They
had gotten over the initial shock of Andry's departure from tradition, but
acceptance was something else again. It

had been several days since Urival had spoken with Sioned on sunlight, his
colors flaring with outrage at Andry's presumption. Certain other important
Sunrunners, who would also be watching tonight from great distances, had been
similarly informed so their startlement would not disrupt the proceedings. But
Sioned wondered what the reaction would be at Goddess Keep itself when the
resident faradh'im actually participated in the new ceremony.

"It won't be sunset there for a little while," Rohan said. "Chay, you've
obviously got something on your mind. Say it."

The Lord of Radzyn shrugged, an attempt at casual-ness. "Maybe I'm just
getting conservative in my old age. Change isn't necessarily a bad thing. And
he seems to have his reasons."

"But why couldn't he have waited?" Tobin burst out. "He's moving too fast. The
tradition of hundreds of years can't be wiped out in a single night!"