"Patricia C. Wrede - Lyra 02 - The Raven Ring" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wrede Patricia C)

"My name is Gralith. I'm from the Island of the Moon, now acting as a representative for the
Emperor of Ciaron," Gralith said, carefully keeping his hands motionless and in view.

The woman nodded, and the knife vanished. The worried expression on her face remained, and
Gralith wondered whether she had some premonition of the reason for his coming. "I've seen you in
Calmarten a time or two," she said, motioning him to come inside. "Sorry for the fuss; I thought you were
someone else."

"I gathered," Gralith said, entering. The interior of the house was cool and smelled of soap and lamp
oil. A row of unstrung bows hung on the wall next to the door, with two empty quivers beneath them; the
only furnishings were a table and two wooden stools, a copper pot hanging beside the hearth, and a bed
in the far corner. A girl of around fourteen sat at the table, helping a boy a few years younger than herself
fletch arrows.

"I have a message for the head of the Salven family," Gralith said, remembering belatedly that
among Cilhar it was the guest's privilege to speak first. "Would that be you?"

The woman's face went stiff. "A message?"

Gralith looked away from the fear in her eyes. "I'm afraid so. Are you the head of the family?"

"I'm Eleret Salven." The woman glanced toward the bed in the corner, her worried expression
deepening. "But I'm not the head of the familyтАФ"

"Not by a bowshot and a half!" said a weak voice from the bed. "I'm not dead yet."

"I know, I know, but you will be if you don't keep quiet long enough for Orimern to get here, Pa,"
Eleret said.

"What's wrong?" Gralith asked, glad of the excuse to put oil his errand for an extra moment or two.

"Nothing catching," Eleret assured him. "He got mixed up in a rock slide two days ago and broke a
leg."

"And?"

Eleret looked at him. Gralith smiled slightly. "Orimern's the best healer around Calmarten village.
You wouldn't have sent for her if the leg were the only problem."

"You're right," Eleret said with a sigh. "He was unconscious for a long time, even after we brought
him home. Now every time he tries to move or sit up he gets sick to his stomach. I sent Jiv down to the
next claiming yesterday to tell them we needed Orimern, but I expect it will be two or three days before
she comes. We're not close to any of her usual circuits."

"I might be able to help," Gralith offered, glad that for once he could do something positive to offset
the news he brought. "The Island of the MoonтАФ"

"Trains people as healers!" Eleret's face brightened.