"(ebook) Anthony Piers - Xanth 03 - Castle Roogna" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anthony Piers)

his quest. Or had he merely run whichever way he liljmpened to be facing? Dor wasn't sure. , He considered the gorgon again. Once he got used to the anomaly of her missing face, he found her quite attractive. "But youЧwhat is a gorgon doing here?" **I am serving my year's fee, awaiting my Answer." Dor shook his head, trying to get this straight. "You Чif I may askЧwhat was your Question?"

"I asked the Good Magician if he would marry me."

Dor choked. "HeЧhe made youЧserve a fee, for that?"

"Oh, yes. He always charges a year's service, or the equivalent. That's why he has so much magic around the castle. He's been in this business for a century or so."

"I know all that! But yours was a different kind ofЧ"

She seemed to smile, behind her invisibility. "No exceptions, except maybe on direct order from the King. I don't mind. I knew what to expect when I came here. Soon my year will be finished, and I will have my Answer."

Grundy shook his little head. "I thought the old gnome was nuts. But thisЧhe's crazy!"

"By no means," the gorgon said. "I could make him a pretty good wife, once I leam the ropes. He may be old, but he's not dead, and he needsЧ"

"I meant, to make you work a yearЧwhy doesn't he just marry you, and have your service for life?"

"You want me to ask him a second Question, and serve another year for the Answer?" she demanded.

"Uh, no. I was just curious. I don't really understand the Good Magician."

"You and everyone else!" she agreed wryly, and Dor began to feel an affinity for this shapely, faceless female. "But slowly I'm learning his ways. It is a good question you raise; I shall have to think about it, and maybe I can figure out that answer for myself. If he wants my service, why would he settle for a year of It when he could readily have it all? If he doesn't want my service, why not send me out to guard the moat or something where he won't have to see me

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every day? There has got to be a reason." She scratched her head, causing several snakes to hiss warningly.

"Why do you even want to marry him?' Grundy asked. "He's such a gloomy old gnome, he's no prize for a woman, especially a pretty one."

"Who said I wanted to marry him?'*

Grundy did a rare double take. "You distinctlyЧХ your QuestionЧ"

"That is for information, golem. Once I know whether he will marry me, I'll be able to decide whether I should do it. It's a difficult decision."

"Agreed," Grundy said. "King Trent must have labored similarly before marrying Queen Iris."

"Do you love him?" Dor inquired.

"Well, I think I do. You see, he's the first man who ever associated with me without . . . you know." She nodded her head toward the corner. There was the statue of a man, carved beautifully in marble.

"That'sЧ?" Dor asked, alarmed.

"No, I really am a statue," the stone answered him. "A fine original work of sculpture."

"Humfrey won't let me do any real conversions," the gorgon said. "Not even for old times' sake. I'm just here to identify the foolish or to scare off the fault-hearted. The Magician won't answer cowards."

"Then he won't answer me," Dor said sadly. "I was so scaredЧ"