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

"Everything will probably turn out all right," Lady Polgara assured
her. "Trust me, Ce'Nedra. I've been handling matters like this for a very
long time. Now go wash your face."
"I made a terrible fool of myself out there, didn't I?" Ce'Nedra said.
"It's nothing that can't be fixed," Polgara said calmly. "We can pass
it off as something brought on by the excitement of seeing your friends
again after so long. You are glad to see us, aren't you?"
"Oh, Lady Polgara," Ce'Nedra said, embracing her and laughing and
crying at the same time.
After the ravages of Ce'Nedra's crying fit had been repaired, they
rejoined the others in the Gorim's familiar study.
"Are you recovered, my child?" the Gorim asked her gently, concern
written all over his dear old face.
"Just a touch of nerves, Holy One," Lady Polgara reassured him. "Our
princess, as you've probably noticed, is somewhat high-strung."
"I'm so sorry that I ran off like that," Ce'Nedra apologized to Adara.
"It was silly of me."
"Your Highness could never be silly," Adara told her.
Ce'Nedra lifted her chin. "Oh yes I can," she declared. "I've got as
much right to make a fool of myself in public as anyone else."
Adara laughed, and the entire incident was smoothed over.
There was still, however, a problem. Ce'Nedra had, she realized, gone
perhaps a bit too far in her impulsive declaration of undying hatred for
Garion. His expression was confused, even a trifle hurt. Ce'Nedra decided
somewhat loftily to ignore the injury she had inflicted upon him. She had
suffered through that dreadful scene on the shore of the Gorim's island,
and it seemed only fair that he should suffer a little as well - not too
much, of course, but a little anyway. He did, after all, have it coming.
She allowed him a suitable period of anguish - at least she hoped it was
anguish - then spoke to him warmly, even fondly, as if those spiteful
words had never passed her lips. His expression became even more baffled,
and then she turned the full force of her most winsome smile on him,
noting with great satisfaction its devastating effect. After that she
ignored him.
While Belgarath and Lady Polgara were recounting the events of their
harrowing journey to Rak Cthol, the princess sat demurely beside Adara on
a bench, half listening, but for the most part turning the amazing
discovery of the past hour over and over in her mind. Suddenly, she felt
eyes on her, and she looked up quickly.
The little blond boy Lady Polgara called Errand was watching her, his
small face very serious. There was something about his eyes. With a sudden
and absolute certainty, she knew that the child was looking directly into
her heart. He smiled at her then; without knowing why, she felt a sudden
overwhelming surge of joy at his smile. He walked toward her, still
smiling, and his little hand dipped into the pouch at his waist. He took
out a round, gray stone and offered it to her. "Errand?" he said. For an
instant Ce'Nedra seemed to see a faint blue flicker deep within the stone.
"Don't touch it, Ce'Nedra," Lady Polgara told her in a tone that made
Ce'Nedra's hand freeze in the very act of reaching for the stone.