The Mountain's Call. Caitlin Brennan

Чтение книги онлайн.

      “What is this?”

      Valeria started so violently that the stylus leaped from her hand and fell with a clatter. The sound of it seemed deafening, but none of the Called looked up. They were all scribbling studiously.

      Kerrec bent over her. He had the tablet in his hand, the one with the maze. “Come with me,” he said.

      When she stood up, that did attract attention. Kerrec’s glare quelled even the boldest of them. Somehow, while she was lost in her maundering, another rider had come to stand at the lectern. “Explain,” he said, “how one fits a saddle properly to a broader back.”

      Valeria could have answered that if she had not so obviously failed the test by losing interest in the questions. She tried to hold her head up as she followed Kerrec through the door behind the lectern.

      The door led to a narrow hallway and then to a small room that must be a study. It had a worktable and a pair of stools and an ancient and visibly comfortable chair. Books and scrolls and tablets lay on every available shelf and surface. Its single window looked out into the court where Cullen and Marcus had died.

      Master Nikos was sitting at the worktable, frowning at what looked like a book of accounts. He looked up in some surprise at their arrival.

      “Your pardon,” Kerrec said, “but this couldn’t wait.” He set the tablet in front of the Master.

      Master Nikos studied it for some time. Kerrec stood at ease like a soldier. Valeria tried to imitate him, but her knees kept wanting to collapse under her.

      This was it. This was the end. She would be revealed as a female and sent away in disgrace.

      After a terribly long while, Master Nikos looked up. His frown had changed, although Valeria could not have explained exactly how. “Where did you see this?” he asked.

      His voice was mild, almost gentle. Valeria answered as steadily as she could. “I dreamed it,” she said, and belatedly added, “sir.”

      His lips twitched very slightly. “Did you? When?”

      “Last night, sir,” she said.

      His brows went up. “Indeed. Tell me. When you drew this, could you see anything other than the lines on the tablet?”

      “Faces, you mean?” She nodded. She was not relaxing, but she was less terrified than she had been. This was not going the way of any punishment she had ever had. “I saw people. And horses—stallions.”

      “Tell me,” he said.

      She did the best she could. The Master and the rider listened without comment. Once she had put it in words, it sounded weak and foolish.

      “That’s all I can remember,” she said at the end of it. “It’s the water, isn’t it? It gives dreams.”

      “You recognize the water?” Master Nikos asked.

      “We all do,” she said. “It tastes the way the Mountain feels.”

      “Feels?” the Master echoed her.

      Her cheeks had gone hot. “I know I’m not saying it well. Words don’t seem to fit. I can’t—”

      “No,” said the Master. “You can’t.” He glanced at Kerrec. “This one broke through faster than any I’ve seen. Even you took somewhat longer.”

      Kerrec astounded her with a smile that made him look remarkably human. Of course it was not aimed at her. “I was still floundering when Petra kicked me into the wall and knocked some sense into my head.”

      “Broke your arm, too, as I recall,” the Master said.

      “Oh, no,” said Kerrec. “That was pure stupidity. I tripped over my own feet and snapped my wrist.” He rubbed it, flexing the hand as if it still remembered pain, and shook his head. “I was a terrible combination—both clever and arrogant. Petra dealt with me as I deserved.”

      “They will do that,” said Master Nikos. “So, what of this one?”

      Kerrec froze into his grim and familiar self again. “This is the one the Lady chose.”

      Master Nikos’ brows went up. “Ah, so. Well then. We won’t waste time with any more of the lesser testing. Is any of the others fit to partner him?”

      Kerrec frowned in thought. “Not really, no. There is one, but he needs every one of the minor tests. Unless…”

      “Yes?” the Master prompted when he did not go on.

      “Unless we ask the Lady.”

      “You know what they think of all our testing.”

      Kerrec almost broke into another smile. “Humans are idiots. That’s a given. Will you ask her or shall I?”

      “I’ll ask,” the Master said. “You go.”

      Kerrec bowed. He barely glanced at Valeria. “Come,” he said.

      Chapter Nine

      Valeria was glad to be out of the Master’s study, but in the hallway she stopped short. Kerrec was nearly to the stair before he realized that she was not trotting obediently behind him. He halted and turned.

      “Listen,” СКАЧАТЬ