"David Eddings. Castle of wizardry enchanters' end game (The Belgariad, Part two)" - читать интересную книгу автора

but stopped, not knowing how to voice his objection. Errand, however, with
a confident smile, was already walking toward Elvar. The knots Durnik had
so carefully tied were undone, and the child took the Orb out of the pouch
at his waist and offered it to the startled priest. "Errand?" he said.
Elvar's eyes bulged and he recoiled from the Orb, lifting his hands
above his head to avoid touching it.
"Go ahead, Elvar," Polgara's voice came mockingly from the doorway.
"Let him who is without ill intent in the silence of his soul stretch
forth his hand and take the Orb."
"Lady Polgara," the priest stammered. "We thought - that is - I -"
"He seems to have some reservations," Silk suggested dryly. "Perhaps he
has some lingering and deep-seated doubts about his own purity. That's a
serious failing in a priest, I'd say."
Elvar looked at the little man helplessly, his hands still held aloft.
"You should never ask for something you're not prepared to accept,
Elvar," Polgara suggested.
"Lady Polgara," Elvar blurted, "we thought that you'd be so busy caring
for your father that " He faltered.
"-That you could take possession of the Orb before I knew about it?
Think again, Elvar. I won't allow the Orb to fall into the hands of the
Bear-cult." She smiled rather sweetly at him. "Unless you happen to be the
one destined to wield it, of course. My father and I would both be
overjoyed to hand the burden over to someone else. Why don't we find out?
All you have to do is reach out your hand and take the Orb."
Elvar's face blanched, and he backed away from Errand fearfully.
"I believe that will be all, Elvar," King Cho-Hag said firmly.
The priest looked about helplessly, then turned and quickly left the
hall with his cultists close behind him.
"Make him put it away, Durnik," Polgara told the smith. "And see if you
can do something about the knots."
"I could seal them up with lead," Durnik mused. "Maybe that would keep
him from getting it open."
"It might be worth a try." Then she looked around. "I thought you might
all like to know that my father's awake," she told him. "The old fool
appears to be stronger than we thought."
Garion, immediately alert, looked at her sharply, trying to detect some
hint that she might not be telling them everything, but her calm face was
totally unreadable.
Barak, laughing loudly with relief, slapped Hettar on the back. "I told
you he'd be all right," he exclaimed delightedly. The others in the room
were already crowding around Polgara, asking for details.
"He's awake," she told them. "That's about all I can say at the moment
- except that he's his usual charming self.
He's already complaining about lumps in the bed and demanding strong
ale."
"I'll send some at once," Queen Silar said.
"No, Silar," Polgara replied firmly. "He gets broth, not ale."
"He won't like that much," Silk suggested.
"Isn't that a shame?" She smiled. She half turned, as if about to go
back to the sickroom, then stopped and looked rather quizzically at Garion