"Julian May - Trillium 1 - Black Trillium" - читать интересную книгу автора (May Julian)

Trillum 01 - Black Trillium by Bradley, May and Norton (v1.0) (html).html


knelt beside his stricken wife and called upon powers long near forgotten, which
he had not named since childhood. Out of the night-murk which hung thick and
stagnant over the great swamp came a bird so immense that, with its wings spread,
it could have covered most of the Citadel's High Tower roof. Beyond a doubt it
was one of the awesome lammergeiers that haunted the most inaccessible crags of
the Ohogan Range. From its back the Archimage Binah dismounted, and those on
guard and those in service in the halls were awestruck and fell to their knees at the
sight of her. In appearance she seemed to be only an aged woman, clad in a silver-
bordered white cloak that changed with movement to that pale blue sometimes
seen in snow shadows; but there was something about her that muted all question,
and it was unthinkable that anyone should try to stop or hinder her as she hurried
to the bedside of the Queen.

Those who stood close to the suffering lady now wept and sighed and prayed
aloud, for it was plain that Kalanthe was unable to bring forth the new life that
struggled for existence within her, and was nigh unto death. Her beautiful russet
hair was darkened and plastered to her head by the sweat of her ordeal, and she
gripped King Krain's hand as one drowning might cling to a rope.

Drawing near, the Archimage said: "Be at peace. All will yet be well. Kalanthe,
dear daughter, look at me."

The Queen's eyes opened wide and her moaning ceased. Poor Krain did not want
to leave his wife's side, but a single gesture from the Archimage filled him with
sudden hope and he stepped back, motioning the courtiers and the Queen's women
to make room for the visitor.

The royal midwife, who was an Oddling named Immu, stood by holding a goblet
containing a potion of herbs, which she had not been able to get the Queen to
swallow. The Archimage Binah beckoned the little nonhuman female to come
forward and raise the cup, and then there was revealed a great wonder. All who
were in the room, even the dying Queen, uttered cries of amazement, for Binah
held over the goblet a Black Trillium plant — root, leaves, and a single tripartite
blossom—a fabled swampherb so rare that not even the palace Oddlings could say
where or if it still grew. Yet this same plant was the badge of the Ruwendian royal
house, and among the most precious of the crown jewels were certain pieces of
honey-amber, which had embedded in them minute fossil specimens of the bloom,
no larger than the head of a pin.

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Trillum 01 - Black Trillium by Bradley, May and Norton (v1.0) (html).html




But this flower was not small. It was fully as wide as the palm of the Archimage's
hand and of a rich black deeper than silk velvet. Binah plucked the trillium