"Joanna Wylde - Dancing With Dionysus" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wylde Joanna)

Dancing With Dionysus

┬йJoanna Wylde, 2002
Chapter One



"Faster," the nymph told Kalliara coldly. "You need to spinfaster, and more
finely, or we'll give you to the Maenads. It's your choice."

Kalliara felt as though a ball of fire was burning in her stomach. It took
every bit of her strength just to hold her composure. She gripped her spindle
tightly, and looked up into the nymph's eyes. The creature was beautiful, with
pale green skin and darker, riotous green hair that hung down in waves to
below her waist. Her shimmering gown was created from woven thread so perfect
that not even a spider's silk could rival it.Never in a thousand years will I
be able to spin thread that delicate , Kalliara thought in desperation.

She was going to die here. She knew it.

"Gracious Lady," she whispered, fighting back her tears. She kept her words
formal, hoping to appeal to the nymph's vanity. "I cannot do as you ask. No
mere mortal will ever be able to spin thread such as that produced by you and
your sisters."

The nymph's beautiful features twisted into a sneer. Around them, Kalliara
could hear the other nymphs laughing, like the sound of a thousand tiny silver
bells. How could beings so beautiful be so cruel? They knew her task was
impossible. They were simply playing with her before they killed herтАж

"Mortals are so foolish," the nymph said, shrugging. "You really should have
considered that before you boasted of your skills. By challenging us, you
sealed your own fate."

"I didn't challenge you," Kalliara whispered. She could feel the tears
welling up again, and she bit her lip sharply. The salty taste of her own
blood filled her mouth, and the sharp pain of the bite distracted her. She
took a deep breath and continued. "I have never claimed to spin better than
any of Dionysus' children. I don't know where you heard that I had, but I
assure you it never happened."

"Well, some human said something about it," the nymph said, waving a hand
languidly. "I can't be bothered to try and tell you apart. Once we heard such
a thing, we could hardly let it stand, could we? Now spin for us, little
human. Prove your skills or pay our price. And spin quickly. The waiting grows
tedious."

Kalliara ducked her head, and started spinning again. Steadily she wound the
coarse wool between her fingers, trying to make the thread as smooth as
possible. As the spindle slowly dropped toward the floor and the length of