"Patricia C. Wrede - Enchanted Forest 1 - Talking to Dragons" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wrede Patricia C)

Talking to Dragons 5

it over to me and set it down on top of the boards I'd been
working on. "Don't touch it," she said, and went on into
the house.

I had a hard time following Mother's instructions. The
more I looked at the sword, the more I wanted to pick it
up and try a few of the passes Mother had taught me. It
was such a beautiful weapon! Just thinking about it made
me shiver. But Mother always had good reasons for the
things she told me to do, so I waited.

I didn't have to wait long; Mother came back almost
immediately. She had a swordbelt and a sheath with her
that I'd never seen before. They were oldтАФso old the brown
leather was turning greyтАФand very, very plain. I was a
little disappointed; I'd expected something a little more im-
pressive.

Mother went straight to the sword and put it in the sheath.
She seemed to relax a little then, as if she'd been worried
about something. I started wondering just what that weapon
did. Mother almost never worried. I didn't have much time
to think about it, though; as soon as she had sheathed the
sword, Mother turned and gave me her you're-not-much-
but-you'11-have-to-do look. I started to wony.

Mother picked up the swordbelt. "This is for you, Day-
star." I reached for it, but she shook her head. "No, I'll do
it this time. Hold still." She bent down and buckled the belt
around my waist, then hung the sheathed sword on the belt.
I felt a little strange letting her do it, and my elbows kept
getting in the way. Finally she straightened up.

"Now, Day star, I have a few things to tell you before
you leave."

"Leave?" I was shocked. Mother had never mentioned
leaving before. It occurred to me that she'd said "you," not
"we." I swallowed hard. "By myself?"

"Of course. You're sixteen; it's time you left, and I'm
certainly not coming with you. Now pay attention." She
gave me one of her sharp looks. I shut up and paid attention.

"You have a sword, and you know nearly as much as I
can safely teach you. I don't want to see you back here
again until you can explain to me why you had to leave.
Do you understand?" I nodded. Mother went on, "You