Odnośniki
- Indeks
- Jeffrey Carver Star Rigger 02 Star Rigger's Way
- Anne McCaffrey Ship 02 Partner Ship
- Gordon Dickson Dragon 02 The Dragon Knight (v1.4)
- Roberts Nora Gwiazdy Mitry 02 Schwytana gwiazda(1)
- Smith Ready Jeri [Aspect of Crow 02] Voice of Crow
- Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon Cykl Heroldowie z Valdemaru (02) Trylogia wojen magĂłw (2) BiaĹy Gryf
- 2007 02. Randka w walentynki 3. Kelly Leslie Czyste Rozkosze
- Krentz Jayne Ann Damy i awanturnicy 02 Poszukiwacz skarbow
- Gromyko Olga Wolha Redna 02 WiedĹşma opiekunka cz. 2 _tĹum. oficjalne_
- Diana Castilleja [Aiza Clan 02] A Trust Earned (pdf)
- zanotowane.pl
- doc.pisz.pl
- pdf.pisz.pl
- staramsie.pev.pl
are orders that must be obeyed! There are apples that must be eaten!"
She thrust the basket forward. Wuntvor could smell the apples now;
they were almost beneath his nose. They smelled very sweet, almost
sickeningly so, as if their green skins were made of sugar. As sweet
as they were, though, he wanted one. He couldn't remember the last
time he had eaten. Then again, he couldn't remember a lot of things.
His mouth started to water.
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"Why don't you take an apple?" the old woman demanded. "Just one
small bite, a few seconds, and it will be over. I think I deserve at
least that much, after all I've done for you." She tried to smile
encouragement. It didn't work.
She sighed, a scowl once again dominating her face. "You force me to
become personally involved in one of my own fairy stories, just so I
might rescue my kingdom from the damage this sleeping wolf has done!
I have never spent so much time fooling around with my stories--and
you know I am a Fairy Tale Professional!" She paused, doing her best
to control her temper. "I suppose you have done things for me as
well. Heaven knows, you have opened new vistas, new possibilities in
which I might ply my traditional tales. I am grateful for that much.
Heaven knows I've never been able to call upon Death the way you seem
able to. But I think it is time for those possibilities I keep seeing
to become fairy tale reality--Now!"
She stared at the lad, and her eyes seemed to glow with a cold, green
fire, much the same color as the shining apples.
"Think handsome prince," she whispered.
Wuntvor began to sweat.
"Um--," he managed. "Indeed?"
Mother Duck laughed sourly. "Still you resist me. Can't you see that
it is hopeless? I am the supreme ruler of all I survey. Once you
enter my kingdom, you are mine. For as long as I want you, you are
mine, even if that is the rest of your life."
The green glow in her eyes intensified. Wuntvor couldn't look away.
He found his lips and tongue moving of their own volition.
"Once upon--," the lad began. "Ow!"
Somehow, his sword had slapped him in the thigh. Wuntvor looked down
at his weapon.
"Don't look at her!" the sword demanded. "I guarantee you, it'll lead
to bloodshed!"
"That does it!" Mother Duck raged. "You seem to have some sort of
incredible dumb luck that always saves you. Well, it won't save you
this time! Eternal Apprentice or no, you are going to eat one of my
apples!"
She swung the basket behind her, as if getting ready to fling the
fruit in Wuntvor's face. So intent was she on her retribution,
though, that she did not notice that the dragon had somehow
149
maneuvered his great bulk directly behind her. The great reptile
caught the swinging basket deftly between his formidable teeth,
tipping the wicker just so, allowing the five remaining apples to
slide down his gullet.
"What?" Mother Duck stared at her empty basket in disbelief. "Gone?
Every one of my delicious, very special apples gone?" She glared at
Wuntvor. "You will not escape my wrath this easily! Wait right there!
I will be back as soon as I reload!"
There was a substantial crash as the dragon fell behind her. The huge
reptile began to snore loudly. Mother Duck grumbled under her breath
as she stormed off around the sleeping lizard.
"Well," the sword in Wuntvor's hand said, "I guess we showed her."
"Indeed," the lad answered, still not quite sure what he had done.
"What do we do now?"
"Hmmm," the sword considered. "Well, now that Mother Duck's gone, I
suppose I can resume the introductions. I, incidentally, am called
Cuthbert. In case you forget again, my name is tastefully inscribed
on the side of my blade. You had forgotten, hadn't you? We definitely
have to get you out of this fairy tale business. Now, swing me around
toward the others, and I'll reintroduce you, let us hope for the last
time."
Wuntvor did as the sword bade, turning the blade toward his
companions, who all seemed to have fallen to the ground.
"Oh, dear," the sword moaned. "Everyone seems to be asleep. How can
we escape when everyone is asleep?"
Wuntvor frowned. Cuthbert was correct. The entire company was quietly
snoring, surrounded by half-eaten apples.
"Oh, well," Cuthbert continued. "I suppose I'll identify them all
anyway. It'll save time when they're done with their nap. Point me
from left to right, will you? Yes, there's Hendrek the warrior and
Snarks the demon, and Alea is the damsel's name. That large reptile
in the middle is called Hubert. Oh, yes, and the wolfs name is
Jeffrey, but you don't have to worry about him. I'm afraid he
wouldn't make much of a companion. His appetite would get in the way.
"Oh, dear." Cuthbert hesitated before speaking again, his voice much
less certain. "I'm afraid I don't recognize the gentleman standing
over on the far right." The sword glowed faintly, as if it might
illuminate the stranger. "If you might come a
150
little bit forward, sir? I'm afraid we swords don't see all that well
in the moonlight."
"Gladly," replied a voice that sounded like dead leaves blowing in
the wind.
"Oh, dear," the sword remarked. "I believe I recognize him now."
So did Wuntvor.
EIGHTEEN
A wizard always attracts a crowd. The minute magic starts, huge
quantities of people are attracted, all asking questions and jostling
for a better view. It is not considered good form, however, to use
your magic to banish these masses and give yourself quieter working
conditions. Rather you should accept your lot, and consider the
publicity value of spells performed before a large and grateful
public. And of course, performing magic becomes even more fulfilling
when you have already charged a nominal admission fee.
--The Teachings of Ebenezum, VOLUME V
I came to my senses all at once. It was amazing the way Death could
do that for me. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]