"Anthony Piers - Incarnations Of Immortality 6 - For Love Of Evil" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anthony Piers)

out to have a talent for magic. It was as if God had chosen
this way to provide me Sorcerer an heir mat he would never
have chosen for himself. The Abbot died when I was ten,
and the Lord when I was twelve, but the need for any coercion




8 Piers Anthony

had long since passed. My father now saw to my education
and welfare with enthusiasm, and indeed, I have never wanted
for either. I have long known the trotfi of my adoption, and
have no resentment on that account; I know that had I not
been sold for sacrifice, I would now be a completely igno-
rant peasant, or perhaps dead of a fever. I believe Has Lead
in his mercy and discretion did intervene to make of my life
what it could be. I was never in danger of death from the
knife; God knew that, if the others did not." He smiled again.
"But you may be sure that when I pick up a knife, it is to cut
bread, and not to harm a visitor. Do you believe that now,
Jolie?"

"Yes," she whispered.

"Will you have some milk? I have plenty."

She nodded mutely, seeming afraid to speak such greed
aloud. He got up and went to the table and poured a mugful.
He brought it to her.

She took it, and sipped it carefully. He knew she was hon-
oring his cautions, which she took to be meaningless; but he
knew also mat she was far more likely to keep the food down
if she went slowly. She was a typical peasant girl in that she
had seldom if ever been properly fed.

"And so I learned the disciplines of law and medicine and
magic," Parry said. "Also combat—and the arts. The art of
communication among them. I doubt you have had much dif-
ficulty understanding me."

She nodded, her smile coming more freely now.

"But I suspect you are wondering why I asked for you."

The fear flared up again, and the remaining milk slopped in
the mug. "I have done you no harm!"

"And I shall do you no harm," he replied automatically.