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

 
 
VI
 
Cerryl took a deep breath as he left Kinowin's quarters, not really
knowing why, except that he was relieved that Kinowin hadn't pressed him
again on improving his chaos-handling skills.
   "It can't be that bad." Standing outside the overmage's door, Faltar
grinned at Cerryl. "Wait for me. I won't be long."
   "All right." Cerryl sat down on the small wooden bench as the blond
mage stepped into Kinowin's quarters and shut the door behind him. Faltar
was always so cheerful. Was that why he appealed to so many people? He
certainly didn't have as much ability to handle chaos stuff as did either
Lyasa or Cerryl, but all had been made full mages at the same time. Then,
reflected Cerryl, it had taken Faltar four years. The slender mage leaned
back against the wall and closed his eyes.
   Thud!
   Cerryl opened his eyes in time to see a red-haired apprentice mage,
thin-faced and female, hurrying away from Kinowin's door. He sat up for a
moment, but Faltar didn't appear, and he leaned back. Darkness, he was
tired.
   "Cerryl?"
   Cerryl struggled awake. Gate-guard duty didn't help his sleep, and he
hated to think what it might be like in summer when the days were longer.
"I'm here. I think." He sat up on the bench and rubbed his eyes.
   "Kinowin's already left. You were sleeping. I've been to the Meal Hall
and back. They're having creamed lamb. Again." Faltar's lips curled. "I
thought you might like to go out for dinner with me."
   "I know how you like the lamb." Cerryl grinned, but his grin faded.
"Do you ever eat in the Halls?"
   "Not often."
   "I don't see how you can eat in the city every night," Cerryl pointed
out. "I can't."
   "But you can," Faltar countered. "We get a gold every eight-day.
That's ten silvers-or a hundred coppers. Most meals-except at
Furenk's-cost five coppers or less. So you still have more than six
silvers left over every eight-day, even if you ate away from the Halls
every night." The blond mage smiled. "I'm not saying every night. Just
tonight. Besides, what's coin for?"
   Books, clothing, silk smallclothes to keep him warm on guard
duty-Cerryl could think of quite a few things. Even a warm woolen blanket
for the cold nights. Or a present for Leyladin. Still, he'd been careful,
and he had nearly ten golds in his private strongbox. Faltar was right.
Paying for a dinner out of the Halls now and again couldn't hurt.
Leyladin was off on a trip to Hydolar-Duke Berofar was ailing and had
requested a healer from Fairhaven. "Tonight-that sounds good."
   "Let's try The Golden Ram. It's not far, and I'm starving."
   "So am I." Cerryl stood and stretched, then followed Faltar out of the
tower and past the guards and the messenger in red. Outside, the wind was
gusting, almost warm, as they turned right leaving the front Hall and