"Janet Morris - Silistra 1 - High Couch of Silistra" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morris Janet E)

wom-an, of responsibility and position, romping off to do the chaldra of the mother. Perhaps they will allow it, but not
until the papers have been filed, the purifications done, the ceremonies complete. It will
take time." His voice was very loud, his face red. "And your chald. You cannot go without another. It must be made,
wound, prayed upon. The chalder will never be able to produce one for you in a matter of hours, should he wish to,
which he will not. You can-not possibly leave before Detarsa fourth seventh. It will take the full pass to arrange things.
I do not agree with you about Jana. There are those more de-serving of such an honor." He rubbed his hand across his
face? "But if you insist upon her, she must be readied to take on your duties. AH these things take time. It is now the
last of Macara. Give me these twenty-eight days, and when the pass is done, I will not obstruct you. Truly, I do not
obstruct you now, but simply remind you of the forms to which you must attend. Perhaps the Day-Keepers will uphold
you. The circumstances here are very unusual. But what-ever comes to be, you must meet your fate with an eye to the
traditions of this Well, and with dignity and grace."
"I know you mean well, Rathad, and that you would not obstruct me. I ask you again to attend to these things for me.
Only summon for me the Day-Keeper and the chalder, and the others that I need. I feel certain that this matter can be
arranged in a way acceptable to all concerned. If I am wrong, then I have but taken mid-meal with the Day-Keeper, and
discussed certain matters with the high-chalder. I will take Santh to the Liaison First's tomorrow, whatever the
outcome, so I will need the fitter and the toilet women. I will let the subject of Jana rest for the present, but the rest
must be done." I smiled my most winning smile.
"I think I should like parr and eggs, fresh fruit, cheese, and wine. Perhaps enough for three, for the high-chalder might
also be hungry. Do hurry, for mid-day is close upon us."
Shaking his head, a smile playing across his lips, Rathad strode to the mirrored doors with a swirl of his iridescent
web-cloth robe. I heard his muffled voice giving instructions to the runner just outside. I
sighed with relief. I had been unsure I could persuade him.
When he reentered, he did not sit again behind the table, but came to lean against it by my side, so close that I could
see every white curling hair that poked its way through the straps of his thonged sandal. He handed me the old
yellowed envelope once again, and this time I took it.
I broke the seal and withdrew the sheet within. The hand was sure and strong. There was no greet-ing.
"The woman I seek, whose name the envelope bears, is all of a color, the color of the spring sun rising, with hair of
molten bronze that brushes the ground. In my vision it seemed that this woman and I were of a kind. I will never know.
To her I say: 'Guard Astria, for you may lose it, and more. Beware one who is not as he seems. Stray not into the port
city of Baniev. And lastly, look well about you, for your father's daughter's brother seeks you.'
"If you succeed, you will be lauded, even as I am lauded, for you will accomplish more than you at-tempt. Be strong,
for the father will surely help his daughter."
It was signed "Astria Barina diet Hadrath." I read it twice. It seemed that every hair on my body stood away from my
flesh. It is said that obscur-ity is the cloak of the forereader. My great-grand-mother had drawn that cloak close about
her in the writing of this message. That it was meant for me, and no other, was beyond doubt. But no one is as he
seems; I had no intention of visiting Baniev, far up the coast; and I had no brother. Her encouragement made even less
sense. My search was of personal im-port only, and my mother had said it was a testing, so no help from my father
would be forthcoming.
I had no fear for Astria. The Well was in the same hands that had guided it these three hundred years. But I would take
care.
I shook my head and handed the perplexing oracle to Rathad.
I felt most discomfited, yet I was glad my great-grandmother's message had reached me. It would be a great lever with
which to pry the Day-Keepers from their conventions.
"What sense do you make of it, Estri?" said Rathad, frowning at the letter in his hands.
"Very little," I replied, "but I will look more sharply about me, and you must see the affairs of the Well with great care."
"Doubtless there is a hidden meaning," he mused. "Doubtless," I agreed. "But perhaps it is too well-hidden."
"I would take all pains to avoid Baniev, were I you," he continued.
"I will avoid," I announced, "not only Baniev, but
Baniese also, and products bearing that city's stamp."
"Has it occurred to you," my mother's brother asked,