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

'That lass.' Raena let her hands fall into her lap and turned a dead-white
face his way. 'Niffa. She did come as close as close can be to saying I
murdered her man.'
What? How would -'
'I ken it not! But she did let me see, oh and so full of hate she were as
well, she did let me see that she thinks this ill lies at my door.'
Verrarc hesitated. All her life Raena had been prone to embroidering her
truths to present them in the most exciting possible light, but this time
there was no denying her terror. He stood and took a few steps toward her.
'Listen to me, Rae. The time be here for the truth. There be naught I can do
to keep you safe without the truth.'
She leaned back in her chair and looked up at him, her lips trembling.
'Well, did you slay him?' Verrarc said. You do have strong witchery, Rae, and
I ken not its limits. Did you slay Demet?'
'Never!' Her eyes glazed with tears. 'I swear it to you, Verro. Never would I
do such a thing.'
'Then who did? Your Lord Havoc?'
'He were the one.' Raena started to get up, but she was shaking too hard.
'Demet did come blundering in. The silver light, it were so strong I never did
see nor hear him till there he was. And Havoc - I ken not what he did. But the
lad screamed and fell back dead.'
Verrarc realized that he'd been holding his breath and let it out in a long
sigh. Raena raised one hand as if she feared he would strike her. Sweat was
beading on her upper lip and forehead.
'I do believe you,' Verrarc said. 'But do you see what this means? Your Lord
Havoc. He be no god, Rae, but an evil spirit indeed. It were best if never you
invoked him again.'
'I must! You don't understand! There be a need on me to find out what he does
ken about -' Her voice caught and stumbled. 'About a certain matter.'
'Rae! These cursed secrets!'
She moaned and let her head flop back, then forward. For a moment he stood
staring at her until he at last realized that she had fainted. He ran to the
door that led to the back of the house and called for his manservant.
'Harl! Come here!' Verrarc shouted. Your aid!'
Verrarc ran back to Raena, who lay sprawled in the chair. He knelt beside her
and caught her cold hand between both of his. All at once her head jerked up,
and she seemed to be looking about her.
'Rae?' he whispered.
Her head turned toward the sound, but her eyes - he'd never seen eyes so blank
and dead. It seemed to him that her soul had fled, yet left her body still
alive to move about and breathe like some mindless animal.
'Master!' Young Harl came running into the room. 'What - Ye gods! Your lady!'
Raena's head turned toward the sound of his voice, but her eyes stayed
dead-seeming. Her mouth flopped open, and she began to make noises, first a
sputter, then a gurgling ugly rumble in her throat that nonetheless had the
cadence of words. Harl gasped and stepped back fast.
'Run get the herbwoman!' Verrarc snapped. 'I'll tend my lady.'
Harl nodded and raced out of the room. Verrarc squeezed Raena's hand hard.
'Rae, Rae,' he whispered. 'Come back!'
Her head flopped back with a long moist sigh. Verrarc stood, then picked her