"Julian May - Boreal Moon 01 - Conqueror's Moon" - читать интересную книгу автора (May Julian)

Finally Conrig said, “Gossy, is there something amiss?”

The alchymist had been sitting like a man frozen, his wine cup poised halfway to his lips. Now he gave a sudden start and set the drink down with a shaky hand. “I don’t know.” His
voice was fretful, but then Stergos had always been a worry-wart. “I think I sense a presence somewhere close by, someone possessed of the talent. I said nothing earlier so as not to
spoil our dinner.”

“Perhaps Snudge is watching us, trying to read our lips.” Conrig flashed an exasperated smile. “Damn his impudence! But he means no harm. I’ll admonish him and box his ears
later.”

“I wish you’d left that boy behind at Brent Lodge,” Stergos complained. “It was unwise to bring him along on this crucial mission. Wild talents aren’t to be trusted! He can’t be
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Julian, May - Boreal Moon 01 - Conqueror's Moon

windwatched so I never know exactly what he’s up to. Deveron’s been badly spoiled by your overindulgence, Con. He needs discipline. At sixteen, he’s quite old enough to enter the
novitiate at the abbey—”

“No,” said the prince with a firmness that brooked no argument. “Deveron Austrey is mine, not Saint Zeth’s, and I alone will command his loyalty, erratic though it sometimes may
be. You must never tell your mystical brethren or anyone else that the lad is not a common man. Is that understood?”

“Yes, but—”

“I need my personal spy, my snudge. He sees things other talents do not— not even you, reverend brother. Folk are wary in the presence of a professed alchymist and windvoice, but
who pays any attention to the youngest of the prince’s footmen?”

“He still thinks of his aptitudes as playthings! One of these days he’ll make a slip and reveal what he is to the wrong person. I’m only trying to protect you, Con.”

“I know, Gossy. Search the wind one last time for intruders, then you must leave me while I gather my wits for the council.” The prince spoke evenly, hiding the concern that
suddenly touched him. There was someone watching. He felt it, too. Drinking down the last of his watered wine in a single pull, he arose from the table. “This cramped room is
depressing. Come. Let’s go into the solar. I’ll look at the scenery while you exert your magic.”

They left the inner chamber and stood near the solar’s huge leaded-crystal window, a marvelous thing made of hundreds of polished small panes, each one perfectly transparent. It
was Duke Tanaby Vanguard’s particular pride, facing westward so as to give an expansive view of Demon Seat and the lesser peaks in the Dextral Range, silhouetted now against a
glaring sunset sky that struck jewel-bright reflections from the collection of silver wine ewers, gilt flasks of ardent spirits, and glass cordial bottles set out by the window for the
council attendees.

Stergos cupped both hands over his eyes and stood still, ranging outward. He had been shaved bald for his ordination a moon ago on his thirtieth birthday, and now his head had
sprouted fine golden fuzz that gave him a childlike air, even in his imposing crimson robes. Slight of body and round-faced, he had always seemed younger than Conrig, although
five years separated them. The two brothers were devoted to one another, in spite of the differences in their temperament.

At length the doctor lowered his hands. “It can’t be that knave Deveron riding the wind. It’s another—a mind far more adept—but God knows who it is. It seems that all of the noble
guests down in the great hall have done just as Duke Tanabybade them. None of their retinues include alchymists, windvoices, or other folk of talent, and Vra-Doman Carmorton and
the rest of the duke’s own magickers are temporarily exiled to the town. Their scrying powers are meager, and they’re much too far away to see into the castle. As far as I can tell, the
only practitioners in all of Vanguard are the young intelligencer Deveron and myself. And yet I’m positive that someone oversees us!” Stergos smote his brow in vexation. “Ah, if
only I were not newly frocked, I might serve you more competently, Con. But overseeing is so much more difficult than windspeech—”

“Never mind, Brother. All will be well.” The prince paused, turning away to stare at the spectacular vista outside the window. “It may be that I know who could be watching. If I’m
right, she has no evil intent.”

The doctor’s face stiffened in dismay. “Of course! I didn’t think of her. God’s Breath! If only there were another way for us to—”