"Sara Douglass - The Axis Trilogy 2 - Enchanter" - читать интересную книгу автора (Douglass Sara)

Azhure to join weapons training with the Strike Force.
Axis could see Azhure's doubts and knew the reasons for them. Had he not
reviled her for the death of her father and the assault on Belial as she escaped
into the Avarinheim with Raum and Shra? Had not the Avar rejected her,
suspicious of her violence, even though she had saved so many of their lives?
"Azhure," he said gently. "You did what you had to. Now do what you want
with your life. Would you like to go with EvenSong this afternoon?"
Azhure hesitated, then nodded. "I have seen the Strike Force practise at
archery. They look so smooth, so graceful. I would like to try that. SpikeFeather
has offered to demonstrate for me and," her mouth quirked, "teach me the
proper use of the arrow." Again she hesitated, then forged on. "I am sick of
feeling helpless, directionless. I feel as though I have spent my life in a deep,
dark well. Now, after so long buried in Smyrton, I am starting to make my way
towards the surface - but the surface is still so very far away. Each day away
from Smyrton, each new experience, brings me a little closer, wakes me up a
little more from the torpor of my previous life. You are right. I must seek my own
path."
She laughed now, her good humour returning. "I am glad I'm not an Icarii
Enchanter like you, destined for heroic deeds. That would be a heavy burden."
Axis turned away, his face expressionless. "I am no hero."
 Azhure lowered her eyes to the flower she still held. If Axis had his moments
of denial, then she did not blame him. Not a day passed that Axis did not grieve
for those who had already died for him. He despised the thought that yet more
would die. And it haunted him that his sister blamed him for FreeFall's death.
"You must bear with EvenSong. She has not yet reconciled herself to
FreeFall's death. Her grief needs an outlet."
Axis knew his sister resented him for many other reasons besides his
inability to prevent FreeFall's death. She had not begun to come to terms with
having an older brother, and one who had inherited their father's powers in full.
Where once StarDrifter had lavished attention on EvenSong, now she found
herself virtually ignored by her father as he spent almost every waking moment
with his son. EvenSoiig found her father's obsession with Axis difficult to accept.
It was fortunate, Axis mused, that Azhure was here to offer EvenSong
companionship. He too appreciated the friendship and understanding she gave
him as he fought to adjust to his new life and his new powers. Rivkah spent a
good deal of time talking to her as well. If not for Azhure, StarDrifter's entire
household might well have self-destructed by now.
"The SunSoars are difficult people to live with," he said, resting his chin in
his hand.
"The Icarii people as a whole are," replied Azhure, her eyes distant. "They
are very good at passions and very bad at friendships."
Axis studied her closely. This woman from Smyrton displayed more insight
than many who had spent years in
scholarly or diplomatic training. Where had she got it from? Not from her
father, surely; Hagen had demonstrated as much insight as a sack of barley. Her
mother? From what Axis knew of Nors women, they thought mainly of the
pleasures of the flesh and very little else. And surely the woeful society of her
village had contributed little to the inner depths she increasingly revealed.
Azhure shifted under his gaze — those pale-blue eyes seemed to reach to
the core of her soul. Unthinking, she said the first thing that sprang to mind.