"Mercedes Lackey and Roberta Gellis - Ill Met by Moonlight" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lackey Mercedes)

He gave her a comical little bow.

She smiled at her brother as he sat in his favorite chair, fingering the mother-of-pearl design inset into the
arm, but she still felt concerned. The blue-green pattern of the cushions no longer picked up gold
highlights from his hair; that was pure silver now. And there were small lines graven by pain and tension
around the emerald eyes with their catlike pupils, and around his well-shaped mouth.

"Are you sure you are well enough?" Aleneil asked. "I know Mwynwen must have said you were, and I
suppose Treowth also approved, but—"

His lips thinned. "I hope they are right. As I said, I do not enjoy being afire. But four years, Aleneil . . .
eight long seasons. I am beginning to think I would rather not exist than be imprisoned and powerless for
much longer." He saw the distress on her face and reached forward toward the settle to pat her arm and
smile. "I am sure Mwynwen erred on the side of caution rather than optimism."

"Unless your endless complaints wore down even Mwynwen's patience," Aleneil said, but she was
smiling again.

"And you do not give Treowth proper credit," Denoriel said, grinning. "I know he is more concerned for
his reputation and his skill in magic than for the welfare of any people, but it would reflect ill on him if his
magic killed me."

Aleneil laughed aloud, making a gesture that waked a peculiar, invisible movement in the air. By the time
she spoke again, a small table had appeared beside Denoriel's chair bearing a flagon of his favorite wine
and a delicate glass.

"So, what is permitted you now?"

"Passive magic. I may go through a Gate and visit the mortal world, so I want to see Elizabeth—and
Harry wants me to see her. He worries about her . . ." He hesitated and then continued. "I don't think
Mwynwen likes his concern with Elizabeth. I think she fears he will want to return to the World Above
and she does not want to tell him that he cannot, not really. Oh, for a few hours, even a day or two, but
not to live. The elf-shot still poisons him and she must drain it every few weeks. I hope if I see the child
and can assure him of her health and safety he will be more content."

"You think he will believe you more readily than me? I have been visiting her regularly all this time and
telling him that she is safe and happy. She has a most loving governess in Katherine Champernowne.
Blanche Parry is now chief of the maids and a close companion."

Aleneil caught her brother's look of sudden concentration, and felt both alarmed and pleased. This was
the first time in four mortal years that Denoriel had shown interest in the child they had all worked so hard
to save.

"Does Elizabeth know what Blanche is?" Denoriel asked. "As a babe Elizabeth could see through illusion.
Can she still do that?"

Aleneil sighed, for she had not been able to get as near to the child as she would have liked. "If she can,
she does not speak of it. She is a strange, self-possessed, most unchildlike child and says very little . . .
but I think she does know what Blanche is and values her accordingly. She has other safeguards too.
Dunstan is still groom of her chamber. Likely in a few years the office will be given to some high-born