"Katherine Kerr - Deverry 10 - The Black Raven" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kerr Katherine)

'Ah.' She nodded as if in understanding, but he knew that she could read none
of it. 'What does that scroll be saying, then?'
'I'll not tell you unless you do tell me where you've been this long while.'
'Oh, be not a beast, Verro!'
Verrarc shoved his chair back and stood up.
'Rae, it be time we had a talk. I do be sick to my heart of all your secrets.
You do come and go at whim and never will you tell me where you've been.'
'Oh here, you don't think I have another man or suchlike, do you?' Raena
laughed, and easily. 'I do swear to you, my love, that such be not true.'
'I believe you, but your secrets still vex me. How can I but wonder where you
go?'
Raena considered him for a moment, then shrugged.
'To the temple in the ruins,' she said. 'I do go there to summon Lord Havoc.'
'Ah. So I thought. The fox spirit.'
'He be more than that. He does ken lore that I would have.'
When Verrarc said nothing, Raena sat down in a cushioned chair in front of the
fire.
'Well,' she said, 'and what about your half of our bargain? What be this thing
you read?'
'Some small part of a book of the witch lore.'
At that she twisted round in her chair to look up at him. Smiling, he rolled
up the scroll and tied it with a thong.
"What sort of lore?' Raena said at last.
Tell me what sort of lore you do seek from your Lord Havoc, and I'll tell you
what this be.'
'I be not so curious as all that.' She turned back round to face the fire.
With a sigh that was near a snarl, Verrarc sat down in the matching chair
opposite hers. For a long moment the only sound in the room was the roar and
crackle of the fire.
'Soon, my love.' Raena spoke abruptly. 'Soon, I promise you, you shall hear
the secret I do guard so carefully. It be a grand thing, I promise you, with
naught of harm in it. But there be one last thing that escapes me, and it
truly is needful for me to learn it before I may speak.'
'Well and good, then. But I'll hold you to that "soon", Rae, I truly will.'
'Fair enough. Tell me somewhat, if you can. What does this word mean:
refulgence, I think it were?' I've not the slightest idea.'
'I were afraid of that. And if you ken it not, I doubt me if anyone in this
town does. A nuisance, but not more.' She turned to him and gave him a slow,
soft smile that warmed him more than the fire. 'It be a good day to spend
a-bed, my love.'
'Just so.'
Verrarc rose, caught her hand, and as she got up pulled her into his arms. She
kissed him, let him take another, and giggled like a lass as she squirmed
free. As he followed her, he knocked against the little table and swept the
scroll to the floor. With a soft curse he stooped and retrieved it, dusting a
bit of soot from the roll.
'That be a valuable thing?' Raena remarked.
'It is. I did pick it up in trade, this summer past. It has no proper
beginning nor an end, so I do think it were torn apart some while past, but
still, the man who owned it did drive a hard bargain.'