"Barbara Hambly - Sun Wolf 2 - Witches of Wenshar" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hambly Barbara)over it time and again, Galdron. It's scarcely likely that your
condemnation of my powers one more time will cause me to go against what I know to be my destiny and my duty." "It is scarcely likely," agreed the little man mildly, "but, as Bishop of Wenshar and, therefore responsible for the salvation of your soul from the sulfurous hells reserved for witches, I can yet hope." The answer was so pat that Sun Wolf was barely able to stifle a snort of laughter; Kaletha's eye flicked to him, like a chilly draft, and then away again. If wishes were horses, Sun Wolf thought wryly, there'd be hoofprints all over my hide ... "Excuse me, Commander, Captain," the Bishop said, as Kaletha turned and crossed the dais to the doorway of the King's solar. "I should probably be present when she attends to the King." "I take it she's the only sawbones you could get?" the Wolf asked, as the Bishop, like a glittering little doll, hastened to follow the tall, red-haired woman through the door. In the hall before them, things were quieting down. The gray-haired hag, in the midst of a gaggle of grooms and laundresses, was recounting some story to snickers of ribald laughter. The Trinitarian novice, Sun Wolf observed, had in truth had no other business-he was still hanging around the archways into the vestibule, talking with two others of Kaletha's disciples: a fattish boy of sixteen or so and a thin, worried-looking young woman, both dressed, like Kaletha and Anshebbeth, in black. "On the contrary," Nanciormis said, sipping the wine the servant had left and offering Sun Wolf the hammered bowl of dates. "Kaletha's Since she's decided she's going to be a wizard, she evidently considers it a part of her much-vaunted 'destiny.' But she's always been part of the Household." "Has she?" the Wolf asked thoughtfully. It would account, he thought, for that bitter defensiveness. It was said that no prophet was without honor except in their own home village. Even he, when he'd announced to his former mercenary troops on his brief visit to Wrynde that spring that he'd become a wizard, had at least done so after going away and coming back. The Wizard King Altiokis had brooked no competition; Kaletha could not have so much as hinted at her powers while he was still alive. She'd had to announce it cold, to people who'd known her all her life. His too-ready imagination framed the notion of claiming wizardy in the village where he'd been raised, and his soul cringed from the thought. Nanciormis shrugged casually. "She was lady-in-waiting to my sister, Osgard's wife, the Lady Ciannis. When Ciannis died, Osgard kept her on in the Household as librarian, since she had a turn for it. It wasn't until news came of the Wizard King's death that she declared herself to be mageborn and began to teach others." He laughed, shortly and scornfully. "Not that anything's ever come of it that I've been able to see. Oh, she claims to be able to teach magic, but who are her disciples? A lot of soured spinsters and frustrated virgins who haven't anything better to do with their lives." "You don't believe her power's real, then?" It must have been the |
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