"Gray, Julia - Guardian 01 - The Dark Moon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gray Julia)

He was still dwelling on the implications this could have for his life when they reached the outskirts of Tiscamanita. Until now this had only been a name on a map, but Terrel soon realized that it was by far the largest town he had ever seen. Even the outlying districts seemed opulent, and further towards the centre he could see several tall buildings - including one lofty tower that seemed to him like a gigantic finger pointing towards the heavens. There were people everywhere but, emboldened by his recent success, Terrel stared about him openly, still keeping up the silent litany within his head. I have blue eyes. Blue . . .
The last part of their journey had been alongside a wide, meandering river that flowed sluggishly over the plain, but Terrel realized - with a rush of disappointment - that he had not yet caught so much as a glimpse of the sea. And it was clear that he would have to wait for that when Babak steered the cart into the yard of a prosperous looking tavern. Stable boys appeared as if by magic to tend to Luci and to stow the cart in one of the guarded sheds, and the innkeeper himself - who obviously knew Babak of old - took them up to a room on the first floor. Nobody gave Terrel more than a second glance.
'Will this suit you?' the pedlar enquired, when they were alone.
Terrel lay back on the smaller of the two beds in the room, and sighed. It was softer than anything he had ever imagined. He felt a wave of contentment wash over him, allowing himself to revel in the moment and to forget about the storm clouds gathering over his future. At that moment, it was hard to believe they were real.
'It's wonderful,' he said, looking up at his companion.
Babak smiled.
'It's becoming instinctive already, isn't it?' he said. 'After a while you won't even have to think about it. Unless you want to, of course. There might be times when your real eyes could be useful.'
Terrel couldn't imagine such a situation, but he didn't really care. He was still lost in amazement at his own achievement - and gratitude towards Babak for forcing him to recognize it.
'Thank you. You were right.'
'Of course!' the pedlar responded. 'Now let's go down and get some dinner.'
'Can we go and see the ocean first?' Terrel asked eagerly.
'Anyone would think you've never seen the sea before.'
'I haven't,' the boy admitted.
Babak looked surprised, obviously thinking that Terrel's life as a wanderer did not seem to have led him very far.
'It's still quite a walk from here,' he said, clearly reluctant, then brightened as another possibility occurred to him. 'However . . . Come on.'
A little while later, they approached the tower Terrel had first seen from a distance. From close to, the soaring circular construction was even more breathtaking, reaching up to the clouds. However, the door at its base was guarded by two men. Their very size was intimidating, and they gave off an unmistakable air of menace.
'There's an entrance fee for the viewing platform,' one of them announced as the visitors arrived.
'Save it for the pilgrims,' Babak advised him dismissively. 'This tower's public property, and we both know it. What would Seneschal Cadrez think of you duping innocents like this, I wonder?'
The big man scowled, but neither he nor his partner showed any sign of giving in.
'Two phinars each,' he stated flatly. 'Any argument and the price goes up.'
'Oh, I don't intend to argue,' Babak replied, 'but my colleague here might. He needs to take a look around from up there. And he has just the eyes to do it.'
The pedlar nudged Terrel gently, and the boy realized with a start what he was meant to do. He stopped the internal monologue that he'd resumed since leaving their room in the tavern. The effect was both instantaneous and remarkable. Neither of the guards had paid him any attention until that moment, but now they stared at him in open-mouthed horror. Without thinking, Terrel smiled - and this seemed to complete their terror. Both men stepped aside and allowed the travellers to enter.
'I told you that might come in useful,' Babak said, as they began to climb the long spiral staircase, and his laughter chimed softly in the echoing spaces of the tower.
When they finally reached the viewing platform they were both out of breath, but the view from the parapet was worth the effort. They were so high that Terrel felt momentarily dizzy, as if he were flying. The entire town was laid out below them, like a map, and he could see for many miles over the surrounding plain. But he was transfixed by his first sight of the ocean. Nothing in his imagination could have prepared him for the immensity of it, a shimmering blue-grey expanse that stretched away to the far horizon. Even from a distance he was awed by its restless energy, its elemental grandeur - and was left speechless. Babak, who had seen such sights many times before, was not so inhibited.
'Ordinarily we'd be facing northwest,' he said, when he'd got his breath back, 'but now it's nearer northeast.
That means we'll all be able to see the moons rise over the ocean, rather than watching them set. The festival will officially start in the early evening tomorrow, when the Red Moon rises, but there'll be plenty going on before then.'
Terrel continued to gaze at the ocean in silence. He was wondering what Alyssa's reaction would be on seeing such an unimaginably vast expanse of water. Compared to this, the lake at Havenmoon was nothing more than a single raindrop.
'See over there,' Babak said, pointing to their left. 'That's Vaka, the most northerly of the western islands -or it would be if we were still pointing the right way.'
Terrel stared at the low-lying shape in the ocean.
'If you look clearly, you can see the edge of the underwater bridge,' the pedlar went on. 'That curve where the sea changes colour.'
As soon as it had been pointed out, the division was obvious. A line of white water marked the rim of the submerged link and, beyond it, the relatively shallow sea was a much brighter blue.
'Navigation's hard enough in those waters at the best of times,' Babak added. 'It's even worse now, I'll wager. I doubt there'll be as many pilgrims as usual from Vaka.'
'What's so special about Tiscamanita?' Terrel asked. 'Why do people come here to celebrate the full moon? They could do that anywhere.'
'Because of Kativa's Shrine,' the pedlar answered.
'What's that?'
'You've never heard of it? I could tell you the story, but it would be better if we wait till tomorrow, when you can see it for yourself.'
'More dramatic that way?' Terrel queried, disappointed by the delay, but knowing that Babak was an actor at heart, and that he wanted to set the scene.
'Exactly,' the pedlar replied, aware that he was being teased, but choosing to ignore the fact. 'Right now I need to eat.'
Their meal at the tavern came in vast portions and was much richer fare than Terrel was used to, so that eventually he was forced to restrain his appetite or risk making himself ill. Babak ate like a trencherman, washing down the roast meats, cheeses and potatoes with quantities of beer, then calling for cake and a jug of wine. Terrel had drunk only water until then, but he was persuaded to try some of the wine. At first it tasted metallic and sour, but after a few tentative sips he began to appreciate the more subtle aspects of its flavour. The only alcohol he had ever drunk before had been a little of Ahmeza's cider, but that had been watery stuff by comparison, and he had not really liked it much. The warm feeling that was now flowing through him was unlike anything he had ever experienced. It made him feel optimistic, invincible.
Babak raised his cup, and smiled to see his companion's flushed cheeks.
'Give me chastity and sobriety . . .' he quoted. 'But not now.'
Terrel joined in the toast, without considering what it meant, then frowned as a stray thought popped into his head.
'You didn't use the glamour on Phailas and the seneschal. Why not?'
'Keep your voice down, boy,' the pedlar hissed. 'Walls have ears.'
It took Terrel a few moments to work out what Babak meant, and when he had, he repeated the question more quietly.
'I'd still like to know why you didn't.'
'Because it pays to have people like that underestimate you.'
Terrel nodded, though he was not sure he understood.
'I've never drunk wine before,' he remarked, his mind flitting from one thought to the next.
'You truly are an innocent,' Babak commented. 'You'll be telling me next you've never kissed a girl.'