"Katherine Kerr - Deverry 11 - The Fire Dragon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kerr Katherine)

The Holy Chronicles of Lughcarn




Sunlight streamed into the tower room and pooled on the wooden floor.
Grey gnomes with spindle legs and warty faces materialized in the warmth
and lolled like cats. Despite his great age, Nevyn felt tempted to join them.
He sat in the chamber’s only chair and considered his apprentice, who was
sitting cross-legged among the gnomes. She turned her face up to the sun
and ran one hand through her blond hair, which fell to her shoulders in a
ragged wave.

‘Spring’s truly here,’ Lilli said. ‘I’m so glad of it, and yet I dread
summer. You must, too.’

‘I do,’ Nevyn said. ‘It won’t be long now before the army rides out, and
the gods only know what the battles will bring.’

‘Just so. All I can do is pray that Branoic rides home safely.’

‘You’ve grown truly fond of Branoic, haven’t you?’

‘I have. The prince doesn’t like it much.’ Lilli opened her eyes and
turned to look up at him. You don’t think he’d do anything dishonourable,
would you?’

‘Prince Maryn, you mean? What sort of dishonour -
 ‘Letting Branno be killed in battle. Putting him in harm’s way
somehow. It sounds so horrid when I say it aloud. I can’t imagine Maryn
doing such a thing, truly. I’m just frightened, I suppose, and it’s colouring
my fancies.’
‘No doubt.’ Nevyn hesitated, wondering if her fear were only fancy or
some half-seen omen. As apprentices so often did, she picked up his
thought,

‘I’ve been meaning to ask you somewhat,’ Lilli went on. ‘You know
how the omens used to come to me? I’d be sewing or thinking of some
ordinary thing, and then all of a sudden the words would come bursting
out of my mouth?’

‘I remember it well.’

‘It doesn’t happen any more.’

‘Good.’ Nevyn smiled at her. ‘It’s a common thing, that a person
marked for the dweomer will have some wild gift, but when she starts a
proper course of study, she loses the knack. Later, once you truly
understand what you’re doing, the gift •will return to you.’