"Sorcerer's Son" - читать интересную книгу автора (Phyllis Eisenstein)

“The evil eye? You mean, blighting crops, bringing disease—that sort of thing?”

He nodded, and then he shook his head violently. “It isn’t true, really it isn’t!”

“Where are you supposed to have learned this power?”

“Learned? My lady, they say I was born with it. My parents cast me out from fear of it.”

“Merely because of your eyes? What ignorance!”

Sepwin looked at the ground. “It is widespread ignorance, my lady. I have met it everywhere.”

Delivev placed her hands on her hips and half-turned from the web. “Cray,” she said,

“when I hear such foolishness, I am doubly saddened that you have forsaken the

sorcerous life. Ordinary mortals know nothing of us. To think that a sorcerer would be marked with some physical sign, that he would have power from birth…”

“I am not a sorcerer!” said Sepwin.

“Of course not. Sorcery is not inborn; it is learned, and the learning takes more years than you have been alive. Accusing a child of sorcery is like accusing a cow.”

“Well, Mother,” said Cray, “I do know a few tricks.”

“Children’s games, my son. The evil eye is not acquired in a few summers of play. I knew of one who had it, and she worked long and hard.”

“Why would anyone want such a power?”

Delivev shrugged. “One who finds happiness in the misery of others… The one I

mentioned, though, had another reason. She wanted silver and gold. She threatened her neighbors with her evil eye, and they paid, lord and peasant alike—they paid whatever she asked, to keep their lands and families secure.”

Cray nudged Sepwin. “See how you could have become rich, Master Feldar? You could have promised to keep your evil eye closed and wrung money from folk instead of beatings.”

“And when the promises were not kept, Master Cray? When the cows died anyway?”

“You would have had to move on quickly.”

“I would be homeless and friendless as I am now. But well-dressed.”

Cray laid a hand on Sepwin’s shoulder. “You are not friendless anymore.”

Sepwin looked up at him for a long moment, then at Delivev. “You don’t mind, my lady,” he said, “that your son has a beggar as a friend?”

“You’ll not have to beg while you’re with me,” said Cray.

“I’m sure he’s been lonely since he left our home,” said Delivev. “I know I have.”

“I was lonely, Mother.”