Читать книгу Child of the Phoenix - Barbara Erskine - Страница 42

Rhonwen woke suddenly, every sense alert and straining, holding her breath as her eyes peered wildly around the silent chamber. The night was completely dark. Outside the narrow windows the valley was blanketed with mist; there were no stars; no moonlight pierced the gloom.

The tall figure was standing in the deeper darkness of the shadowed corner near her bed. Arms folded, he stared down at her.

‘Where is the child?’

Rhonwen sat up slowly, holding the bedclothes tightly beneath her chin. ‘What are you doing here? How did you get in?’ She was terrified.

He ignored her question. ‘Where is the child?’

Swallowing, Rhonwen could not stop herself looking across at the corner of the room where Eleyne’s bed was invisible in the darkness. Without going near it, she could sense that only Luned lay there, fast asleep.

She shrugged. ‘I don’t know where she is. She often wanders around at night.’

‘Find her. The lessons must continue.’

Rhonwen swallowed. ‘She’s afraid. Could you not leave it until she is older? Please …’

‘It will be too late when she is older. Find her. I shall wait by the alders as before.’

Rhonwen closed her eyes. ‘Please –’ Her plea met with silence.

He had vanished. Climbing out of bed, she groped with shaking hands for the candle on the coffer near the door and thrust it into the fire. The light sent the shadows leaping and cavorting up the walls, running up the bed hangings and across the ceiling, racing across the floor and towards the door. The room was empty. She pulled open the door. The short spiral stair leading down into the darkness was deserted. The rush light in its holder at the first curved angle of the wall burned with a steady flame. No one’s passing had caused it to flicker.

Closing the door, she went back to the bed and sat down, shivering. Had it been a dream or had Einion slipped through the walls, his body a wraith without substance as he sought the child? She glanced at Eleyne’s bed again. Where was she and what was she doing?