"Melanie Rawn - Salve Regina" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rawn Melanie)

"What is your name, my dear?"

For all the water, her mouth was suddenly parched dry. She swallowed
hard, bit her lips, and with her face still hidden in her hands she
stammered, "Berthilde, Lady."

"Ah! Bright OneтАФdoubtless for your lovely golden hair. This is one of
my Names, also." There was a smile in the warm soft voice. "I have so
many!"

The words tumbled from Berthilde's lips in spontaneous joy, for here
was the Lady for whom they were meant: "Queen of Heaven, Mother of
God, Mystic Rose, Seat of Wisdom, Blessed Virgin, Lady of Light, Health
of the SickтАФ" She caught her breath and dared peek from between her
fingers. She was smiling now, with great sweetness and even a little
humor.

"Lady of the Mountains, the Beasts, the Forest, the Lake," she said,
nodding. "Quite a list! Add to these the Names Gaia, Isis, Hera, Ashtoreth,
Brigid, Inanna, Britomartis, Car, and a thousand others that would mean
even less to you, Bright One."

Her hands fell shaking to her knees and suddenly she was afraid.
"Lady," she whispered, "never have I heard such sounds, not even when
the priest speaks the Holy Mass."

"They are Names only. Those who know me know who I am." Pausing,
she shook her head. "The priest does not."

"ButтАФsurely he serves you!"

"Not he. Few in this land serve me now."

Berthilde hung her head with shame. "We have sinned, Lady, I know
this. Else why would there be this blight upon our land, and this sickness
that kills even the strongest among us? We are unworthy of the sacrifice
made by your Holy SonтАФwe have not followed God's LawsтАФ"

"On the contrary," the Lady replied, brows arching, "you have followed
them all too well."

"I am only a woman, I do not understand such thingsтАФbut I beg you,
Sweet Lady, help my children! Free them from the fever that is killing
them and all our village!"

"This is why you have come here, daughter. Such will be your doing.
Bring water to your children, and to your village, and to the cattle starving
in your byres and the fouled well and the weary earth of your fields. Take
this water, pure and clean, and give back thanks for it."