"Maria V. Snyder - Yelena 02 - Magic Study" - читать интересную книгу автора (Snyder Maria V)

risked another peek around the room. Now contemplative, worried and even sheepish looks peppered
the group. The Zaltana women wore sleeveless dresses or skirts and short-sleeved blouses with bright
flora patterns on them. The hemlines reached to their knees. The men of the clan wore light-colored
tunics and plain pants. All the Zaltanas were barefoot, and most had lean builds and bronze skin.

Then IrysтАЩs words sank in. I grabbed her arm. Brother? I have a brother?

One side of her mouth quirked up. Yes. A brother. Your only sibling. You would have known this if
you hadnтАЩt changed the subject every time I tried to tell you about the Zaltanas.

Great. My luck was holding steady. I had thought my troubles were over when I had left the Territory of
Ixia. Why should any of this surprise me? While all the other Sitians lived in villages on the ground, my
family resided in the trees. I studied Leif, searching for a resemblance. His stocky muscular build and
square face stood out compared to the rest of the lithe clan. Only his black hair and green eyes matched
my own features.

During the awkward moments that followed, I wished for an invisibility spell, and reminded myself to ask
Irys if there were such a spell.

An older woman about my height approached us. As she neared she shot Leif a powerful glance, and he
hung his head. Without warning, she embraced me. I flinched for a heartbeat, uncertain. Her hair smelled
like lilacs.

тАЬIтАЩve wanted to do this for fourteen years,тАЭ she said, hugging me tighter. тАЬHow my arms have ached for
my little girl.тАЭ

Those words transported me back in time, shrunk me down into a six-year-old child. Wrapping my arms
around this woman, I bawled. Fourteen years without a mother had made me believe I could be stoic
when I finally met her. During the journey south, I had imagined I would be curious and unemotional.
Nice to make your acquaintance, but we really need to get to the Citadel. But I was woefully
unprepared for the torrent of emotions that racked my body. I clung to her as if she alone kept me from
drowning.
From a distance, I heard Bavol Cacao. тАЬEveryone get back to work. The Fourth Magician is our guest.
We need a proper feast for tonight. Petal, make up the guest rooms. WeтАЩll need five beds.тАЭ

The buzz of voices filling the common area disbursed. The room was almost empty when the
womanтАФmy motherтАФreleased me from her arms. It was still difficult to match her oval face to the title of
тАЬMother.тАЭ After all, she might not be my real mother. And if she were, did I have the right to call her by
that name after so many years away?

тАЬYour father will be so pleased,тАЭ she said. She pulled a strand of black hair from her face. Streaks of
gray painted her long braids, and her pale green eyes shone with unshed tears.

тАЬHow do you know?тАЭ I asked. тАЬI may not be yourтАФтАЭ

тАЬYour soul fits the void in my soul perfectly. IтАЩve no doubt youтАЩre mine. I hope youтАЩll call me Mother, but
if you canтАЩt you can call me Perl.тАЭ

I wiped at my face with the handkerchief Irys handed me. Glancing around, I looked for my father.
Father. Another word that threatened to ruin what little dignity I had remaining.