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

"It is something of a mausoleum, isn't it?" Prill said cheerfully, misreading Eleret's expression.
"Blame it on the Ciaronese. It's four hundred years since Imach Thyssel fell, or nearly, and they still won't
allow decent windows in any building inside the city walls. Even the Emperor's palace has nothing but
arrow slits on the first two floors. It's been hundreds of years since anyone attacked Ciaron; you'd think
that by this time they'd feel safe enough to allow a few windows. But I was forgetting, you're Cilhar. You
probably approve of buildings that are easy to defend."
 "They have certain advantages," Eleret replied. She wondered what it would be like to live in a
place that no one had attacked for a hundred years.

"Yes, I suppose they do. I'm sorry. I tend to forget that every place isn't as peaceful as the Island.
Still, a city doesn't have to be completely peaceful to allow big windows. Look at Kith Alunel."

"Urn," said Eleret. Kith Alunel was just a name to her, a city rich in history which she did not expect
she would ever see.

"Exactly," Prill said. She threw open a door and announced, "Eleret Salven's come, Adept. And
Nijole owes me a tenth piece."

"I'll remind her when I see her, Prill," an amused tenor voice said from the interior of the room. "I'll
also remind her about making wagers with the juniors. Come in, Freelady Salven. I am Climeral of the
Island of the Moon, as Prill here has neglected to mention."

Eleret stopped dead in the doorway, staring at the white-robed man behind the table at the far side
of the room. His hair was silver-white and swept back above an unlined forehead; his eyes were a dark
gray-green and tilted upward at the corners. He was unmistakably one of the non-Human,
semi-legendary Shee, and all Eleret could think was that Gralith might have warned her. It was one thing
to know that all four of Lyra's races lived and worked on the Island of the Moon; meeting a Shee
magician in person was something else entirely.

"Go on, Climeral won't eat you," Prill said.

"I may, however, mark you down for some classes in proper conduct," the Shee Adept said to
Prill. "You appear to be badly in need of them."

"I'm taking two next season."

"If Nijole is going to put you on door-duty, you had better start sooner than that," Climeral told her.
"Get along with you, child."

Prill made a face at him, gave Eleret a gamin grin, and disappeared down the corridor. Eleret
looked at Climeral uncertainly, half expecting him to scowl. Instead, he smiled. "Welcome, Freelady."

"I thank you for your courtesy," Eleret responded automatically. "May your welcome bring strength
to us both."

"And defeat to our enemies, yours and mine," the Shee finished. "Though mostly yours, I expect;
Cilhar seem to collect them the way Traders collect money. Come in and sit down."

Eleret hesitated, wishing she had thought to question the young doorkeeper before she had gotten
into this. However logical she tried to be, however much she told herself that Gralith wouldn't have sent