"Barbara Hambly - Sun Wolf 2 - Witches of Wenshar" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hambly Barbara)

If Kaletha had expected surprise from her, she must be
disappointed. Away from the antagonism between her and the Wolf,
Starhawk's own reading of the woman's character was that she
preferred the company of women to that of men, though not necessarily
in bed. In her way, Kaletha would have been pleased to show Sun
Wolf up by taking from him his lover's loyalty.
Nevertheless she gave the matter some thought before replying.
"I'm not mageborn."
"That doesn't matter." Kaletha leaned forward, her blue eyes
intent. She was a beautiful woman whose beauty, Starhawk guessed,
had kept men from taking her seriously-she wore her severeness like
armor. But as she spoke, she lowered her shield to show the woman
underneath. "Your Captain didn't believe me, but it is true. I understand
the secrets of power. I can raise that power, bring it out of the depths
of the souls of even the non-mageborn. That is my destiny."
"It's true," Anshebbeth put in, hurrying over to them from across
the Hall. She had entered some moments ago in dutiful attendance upon
the Princess Taswind, her own habitual, severe black gown contrasting
sharply with the girl's casual attire of boy's breeches, riding boots, and
a faded pink shirt. They had been chatting comfortably, but, even at
that distance, Starhawk had seen Anshebbeth's eye rove quickly over
the tables and find Kaletha at her table, a little apart from the other
members of the Household. She had lost no time in breaking off the
conversation, taking her plate from the High Table where Tazey seated
herself alone, and hastening to Kaletha's side.
"Pradborn Dyer certainly isn't mageborn-he's one of our company,
a youth from the town-but Kaletha has taught him, released the hidden
strengths of his mind and he has begun to have visions and dreams
which have come true. He can sometimes see things in the dark and is
led to find objects which are lost. And I myself, though I'm not
mageborn, I have been studying with Kaletha, absorbing her wisdom,
learning the secrets of her arts, for almost a year now. It has helped me,
helped me enormously ... " She glanced quickly sidelong at Kaletha, as
if for approval.
If Kaletha was as annoyed as Starhawk at having her conversation
intruded upon in this fashion, she didn't show it. She preened herself a
little under the praise and gave a tolerant smile, retreating behind her
schoolmistress facade.
 Encouraged, Anshebbeth continued, "Do you know, it seemed
that I knew for many years before the Wizard King's death what
Kaletha was, though she never told a soul. But her power always shone
out of her-"
" 'Shebbeth-" Kaletha said, a little embarrassed now.
"It's true," the governess insisted eagerly. "Even Tazey-Princess
Taswind-felt it when she was a little child." She looked back at
Starhawk. "We've always been friends, Kaletha and I. She has virtually
made me what I am today, has opened worlds to me I never dreamed
of. Others felt it, too," she added, her dark eyes suddenly smoldering
with venom. "Like that dirty hag Nexué, the laundress, with her filthy
mouth and her filthy mind." She picked up a horn-handled tin knife to