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

did see, that Niffa does have the gifts of the witch road? Twere a grand thing
if I did enlist her in our studies,'
'Ah. True spoken.'
Yet the fear returned from its hiding place, somewhere deep in his mind beyond
his rational understanding. He felt as if he were remembering some incident,
some time when she'd done something to earn this distrust, but no matter how
hard he tried, the memory stayed stubbornly beyond his conscious mind.
A bowl of dried apples preserved in honey made a generous gift, here in winter
when food was scarce, but Niffa felt like knocking it out of Raena's hands.
Dera, however, smiled as she took it from their guest. She set it on the
table, then bent her knees in an awkward curtsey.
'This be so generous of you, Mistress Raena,' Dera said. 'It will do my poor
raw throat good.'
If it doesn't poison you, Niffa thought. She wanted to snatch the bowl and
hurl it to the floor so badly that her hands shook. She clasped them tightly
behind her and wondered if she were going daft, to believe that Verrarc's
woman meant them harm, when she knew with equal certainty that the councilman
would never allow anyone to injure Dera.
'My poor child!' Raena said. You do look so wan. You'd best sit down and close
to your hearth too.'
Niffa managed to mumble a pleasantry and sat on the floor, leaving their only
chair for the visitor and the bench for her mother. Raena sat down, opened her
cloak, and pulled it back, but she left it draped over her shoulders to ward
off the chill. Around her neck hung a silver pomander; she raised it to her
nose and breathed deeply.
'I do apologize,' Dera said. 'The ferrets, they have a strong stench about
them in winter. It be too cold, you see, to risk giving them a good wash.'
'Ah well, I mean not to be rude,' Raena sounded a bit faint. She raised the
pomander again.
'It be kind of you to visit the likes of us,' Dera said. 'It be a long while
since we've had a treat such as this.'
'Most welcome, I'm sure. Verrarc did think the honey might ease your throat.'
'There, you see? Niffa told herself. If Verrarc sent it, then it must be
harmless.
'It might at that,' Dera said. 'The herbwoman did suggest the same, but my man
couldn't find any honey to be had in town, not for trade or coin.'
'Ah, then it be a good thing that we did have some laid by,' Raena glanced at
Niffa and gave her a sad-eyed look that was doubtless meant to be sympathetic.
'It be a great pity that there be no herb or simple that might ease your
grief.'
Niffa rose, staring at her all the while. Abruptly Raena looked down at the
floor.
'Er, well,' Raena went on, 'I mean not to press upon a wound or suchlike.'
'I be but sore surprised, is all.' Niffa felt her voice turn to a snarl, 'that
you of all people would say such a thing.'
Raena went dead-white and crouched back in her chair.
'Now here!' Dera snapped. 'Mind your manners!'
Niffa turned and ran into the far chamber. She slammed the door behind her and
leaned against it, her shoulders shaking. She could hear her mother's startled
voice, and Raena murmuring a frightened goodbye. In a moment the voices