"Recluce - 09 - Colors Of Chaos" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

   "Doesn't always take so long, lad." Gostar's eyes went to Cerryl. "The
mage Cerryl here. He was a student mage for but two years."
   The black-haired boy from the creche looked away from Cerryl.
   "It's true," Cerryl said. "Sometimes it's easier if it takes longer,
though." His friend Faltar had taken nearly four years, but Faltar hadn't
had to fight brigands in Fenard and sneak across a hostile land ... or
deal with Jeslek day in and day out. Cerryl frowned. Faltar also hadn't
gotten a half-score of lancers killed, either.
   "You see there, lad. All in the way you look at it," said Gostar
heartily.
   The messenger kept his eyes on the white granite floor tiles.
   At the sound of boots coming down the tower steps, Cerryl glanced
through the archway, and a broad smile filled his face as Leyladin
descended the last few steps from the upper levels, wearing her green
shirt, tunic, and trousers-even dark green boots. Her blonde hair, with
the faintest of red highlights, had been cut shorter and was almost level
with her chin.
   "How is Myral?" asked Cerryl, not knowing quite what to say.
   "Better today." After a moment of silence, Leyladin offered a smile,
somehow both shy and friendly. "Can you come to dinner? Tonight?"
   "I'd like that." Cerryl paused. "If you can wait a bit. I have to meet
with Kinowin first. For the first season I do gate duty I have to talk to
him after I finish. It shouldn't take that long."
   A mischievous smile crossed her lips. "Father can wait that long."
   "Your father?" Cerryl's throat felt thick.
   "I've talked about you so much that he says he must meet you."
   Lucky me ... He could sense a chuckle from Gostar.
   "I'll wait here with Gostar."
   Cerryl nodded. "I hope it won't be long." He went to the left, past
the guards and the still-mute young messenger.
   "Lady mage ... true he killed the prefect of Gallos all by himself?"
   "It's said to be true." Leyladin's voice drifted after Cerryl.
   "He looks ... too nice ..."
   "... a quiet mage . .."
   Appearances-was one of his problems that he looked like a polite young
scrivener and not a mage who would upset the world. They said that the
Black mage Creslin had been small. Was that why he'd killed- or had to
kill-so many? Cerryl squared his shoulders as he stepped up to the
overmage's door.
   At the first thrap on the door, Kinowin replied, "Wait a moment, if
you would, Cerryl."
   "Yes, ser." Cerryl settled onto the bench outside the white oak door.
Even if he hadn't done that much, it had been a long day, a very long
day. The gates opened to wagons at sunrise. His eyes closed ...
   "Cerryl?"
   He jerked awake and bolted upright. "Oh ... I'm sorry."
   Kinowin laughed once, gently. "That's all right. Being a gate mage is
more tiring than most realize. That's why we give it to you younger
mages. I wouldn't want to do it."
   As Cerryl followed, still groggy, and closed the heavy door behind