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

'That you must have been possessed by a demon while you slept.'
'What? Don't be ridiculous!'
'Have you any other explanation for what happened?' Uzellin asked.
Terrel thought about this for a while. What the underseer was suggesting was something from the myths of a distant, superstitious past. Surely no one believed in such things any more? And yet Terrel hesitated, his instinctive scepticism warring against the small voice that insisted that Uzellin might prove useful - even though his theory was utterly ludicrous.
'No, I haven't,' he replied eventually.
'Then we are agreed,' the underseer stated. 'I will begin preparations for a ritual of exorcism.'
'What, here?' Terrel exclaimed in disbelief. 'Now?'
'Of course not,' Uzellin said. 'When the demon is expelled it must be in a public place, so that the people can witness the truth.'
It was Terrel's turn to be struck dumb. He could not believe what he was hearing, but if Uzellin was serious - and he gave every indication of being in deadly earnest - then it would at least get him out of this confinement, perhaps even give him the chance of escaping once he was in the open.
'Don't worry,' the underseer said, mistaking the reason for the boy's silence. 'My skills are more than a match for any demon. This rite is ancient, but the tradition is well-established. Nothing will go wrong.'
'And what will happen when it's over?' Terrel asked.
'Then you'll be free of this evil,' Uzellin replied, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
'And will they let me go?'
'Once the real culprit has been exposed for all to see, Cadrez will have no choice but to pronounce you innocent. You will be released.'
Even though Terrel could not prevent a surge of hope, this sounded too good to be true.
'What if no demon comes out?' he asked.
'It will,' the underseer replied confidently. 'It will be helpless against my conjuration.'
'And if there's nothing there?' Terrel persisted. 'If I'm not possessed?'
'Do not concern yourself with irrelevancies. This will be a triumph.' Uzellin's face was pink now, shining with anticipatory fervour, but he would not meet the boy's gaze.
'When's it going to be?' Terrel asked.
'The ceremony will take place this afternoon, an hour before sunset. Prepare yourself.
With that the underseer turned and strode from the cell, leaving the guards to close and lock the door.
Who was that pompous ass?
Terrel spun round, and his heart leapt as he saw Elam's ghost sitting casually in the corner of the room.
'How long have you been there?'
Long enough to know he wasn't telling you the whole truth.
Terrel had assumed the same thing, and he was about to speak again when they were interrupted by a guard, who was peering in through the window.
'You talking to your demon, boy?' The soldier rolled his eyes and walked off, laughing.
Terrel knew that his reputation as a lunatic would be confirmed if he was seen holding conversations with invisible people, so he decided to try an experiment.
Can you hear me like this? he asked silently, deliberately forming the question in his mind and trying to project it to his friend.
Of course, Elam replied. You're learning.
Is Alyssa here too? Terrel asked, eager now that he knew that psinoma worked with the ghosts.
She's somewhere around, trying to work out how best to get to you. It's not easy getting into these dungeons if you have to lug a body round with you. I'm a sort of advance guard.
The news buoyed Terrel up even more. She was close.
The others will be with you soon, I'm sure, Elam added, but right now I'm going to follow your exorcist and see what he's up to.
Don't go! Terrel cried, but Elam was already on the move. He walked through the locked door, leaving his companion alone again, and wishing that he could do the same.
Terrel knew, even before she spoke, that the sparrow was Alyssa, for no bird would willingly enter such a dark and unattractive place. Then he saw the 'ring', entwined round one of her legs, like the laces of a boot. The bird was small enough to slip between the bars in the window, but she came no further than the sill, evidently wanting to keep an eye out for the guards. She could move fast, but her size made her vulnerable, especially in such a confined space.
Did you really burn down their shrine?
It was not the greeting Terrel had been expecting - or hoping for - but he could not blame her for being preoccupied with the reason for his incarceration.
Yes, it looks as though I did, he admitted reluctantly, accepting the truth of it for the first time.
What were you thinking?
I wasn't thinking. That's the whole point. I wasn't even awake!
You dreamt it? Alyssa exclaimed. Then why can't I see it?
It was three days ago.
That silenced her for a while, and Terrel got the impression that for some reason she was confused about the time scale.
The dream I had last night was quite different, he began, wanting to tell her about the fantastic visions he had seen, and about the mysterious voice at the end, but she evidently had more important things on her mind.
You can't stay here, she said. You still have a long may to go, and time's getting short.
I know, Terrel agreed. I've been trying to think of a way to escape, but it's hopeless.
I could try to get the keys for you, but I'd have to come back as something bigger, and then-
That wouldn't be any good, he cut in. There's no keyhole on this side of the lock and anyway, I'm going to be taken out of here this afternoon.