"R Garcia Y Robertson - Strongbow" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robertson R Garcia Y)

Clare called out, "Mother." The sleeping form stirred. Clare tried again.
"Mother."

Her mother sat up, looking astonished, muttering, "Holy Mary!"

Marian smiled and curtsied.

Brushing shining brown hair out of her eyes, her mother stared at the two young
women -- one naked, the other dressed up like Robin Hood. "Clare, is that you?"

"It is me, mother."

"Am I dreaming?" She looked about for something to prick herself with.

"No. You are not dreaming."

Her mother sat back. "Then it must be Friday."

"Yes, it's Friday. You ought to have been expecting me." This was not Clare's
first witch's flight to Fontevrault.

Solemnly her mother got up and knelt in bed, managing to make it look graceful.
She crossed herself, then thanked Marian "for bringing my daughter to me."
Marian nodded, casually acknowledging the miracle.

Turning back to her daughter, she asked, "And how is Nuala?"

"Nuala is fine. It was she who sent me." Put off by pleasantries, Clare went
straight to the purpose of the midnight visit. "You must know Stepfather is
dying."

"I am sorry for that. But if incessant prayers and a hair shirt cannot save him,
what can I do?"

"And Edmund...."

"Edmund is dying too?" Her mother looked hopeful.

"No. Edmund is a monster, and very much alive." It angered Clare that her mother
instantly tried to wish away every problem. Mother sank back, looking from her
to Marian, who wore an expression of virginal innocence, as if to say that
Edmund was an Earthly issue. "What am I going to do?" Clare demanded. "He means
to rape and murder me." Clare wanted to fight him, but did not have the means.
She was not Nuala, and could not resist Edmund physically. She had come with the
wild notion that she might pry her mother out of Fontevrault, getting her to
come to Wales. Edmund was her stepson. Caeradar was her castle. Clearly that was
not going to happen. Clare felt like a caterpillar crushed beneath a rock.

Her mother sighed, "It is your father's fault."