"Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon - Mage Wars 01 - The Black Gryphon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lackey Mercedes)

reasons I became a kestra'chern are too complicated to go into for the most part, but I can tell you the
only simple one. I am also Empathic, too strong an Empath to be of any use as a conventional Healer."
Amberdrake nodded as Lanz looked up cautiously from beneath a fringe of dark hair. "That doesn't
mean I became this because I am afflicted by some horrible mental curse—but as a kestra'chern—well, I
never see those who are so badly injured that their physical pain overwhelms everything else. But I can
use my Gifts and my training to Heal the deeper, and more subtle pains, injuries of mind, body, and heart
they may not even be aware they have."
"But not all kestra'chern are Healers," Lanz said doubtfully. "Or Empaths."
Amberdrake smiled. "That is true. Most of them are not. And those who have no Gifts must work
the harder to learn how to read the languages of body and tone; to see the subtle signals of things that the
Gifted can read directly." As Lanz's blushes faded, he allowed himself a chuckle. "My friend, there is one
thing that the kestra'chern have learned over the centuries; people who believe they are coming to
someone only for an hour or two of pleasure are far more likely to unburden themselves than people
who are confronted with a Healer or other figure of authority. If we honey-coat the Healing with a bit of
enjoyment, of physical pleasure, where's the harm? Now—is your patient the last one on my roster
tonight?"
"I think so." Lanz sat up a little straighter now, and he had lost some of the tension in his body that
had told Amberdrake that the boy was afraid of him.
"M'laud sent me a briefing on her. The reason she is coming to me is that she is under some kind of
great inner tension that M'laud has been unable to release, as well as some severe battlefield trauma, and
that is making it impossible for her damaged body to heal." Lanz's face lit up, and Amberdrake decided
that he must have thought her failure to heal was his fault. "M'laud suspects that she suffered some kind
of abuse in her childhood, which is the real root of her problems. Essentially, she is unconsciously
punishing herself for being such a bad person that she deserved abuse." He sighed and shook his head. "I
know that this makes no sense, but this is something that kestra'chern in particular see and hear all the
time. And it is not something you have any chance of dealing with, for I greatly doubt you would ever get
her to trust you enough. Not because you are not trustworthy, but simply because of her own problems.
You have other responsibilities to take your time, and you are less experienced with this kind of problem
than I. I am a stranger, and it is often easier to say terrible things to a stranger than it is to someone who
has known you, for the stranger will not prejudge. I will not be anywhere near the front lines, ever, and
thus she will know that I have no chance of being cut down by the enemy. I become safe to think of as a
friend because she knows she will not lose me."
Lanz shifted a little in his seat, looking rather doubtful, and Amberdrake decided to overwhelm him,
just a little. "Here—I'll prove it to you," he said, in an authoritative voice.
And he recited the litany of all the formal training he'd had, first with the chirurgeons, then Silver Veil,
and finally Lorshallen. It took rather a long time, and before he was finished, Lanz's eyes had glazed over
and it looked to Amberdrake as if the poor boy's head was in quite a spin.
"You see?" he finished. "If you've had half that training, I'd call you a good Healer."
"I never knew," the youngster said in a daze, "and when Karly came up the Hill from talking to
you—"
"Karly? The redhead?" Amberdrake threw back his head and laughed.
Shyly, Lanz joined in the laughter. "I heard that one of the other Senior Healers said, 'I hope he has
a regular bedmate, because after talking to Amberdrake the way he did, there isn't a kestra'chern in all of
the camp who'll take him for any price!' I suppose he was awfully rude to you."
"Rude?" Amberdrake replied. "That doesn't begin to describe him! Still, Karly needn't worry.
We're obligated to take those in need, and I can't imagine anyone more in need of—our services—than
he is!"
Lanz smiled shyly. "And Karly's rather thick," he offered. "After talking to you—you being so kind
and all—well, if you take any of my patients, I think I'm going to be awfully grateful, and kind of
flattered."