"(ebook) Anthony Piers - Xanth 12 - Man from Mundania" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anthony Piers)

enough to wear it without attracting stray male eyes or
female frowns.

Quickly they trooped down the hall to the farther stair-
way, avoiding the wax. Unfortunately this led them past
Dolph's room, and he heard them. He had ears like those
of a werewolf, perhaps because he commonly assumed
wolf form to snooze. His door banged open. "Hey,
where're you going?" he cried. "Are you sneaking out
again?"

Nada and Electra paused: Nada because she didn't want
to hurt his feelings, Electra because she was in love with
him. Both were betrothed to him, of course, though he
was only twelve. In a moment Electra would invite him
along, because she always wanted to be close to him.

To prevent that. Ivy dived in. "We're going to get the
magic mirror from Com-Pewter so I can have it when I
use the Heaven Cent," she said. "So we can find out
where Good Magician Humfrey is and finally complete
your Quest."

"But Mother won't let youЧ" he started, reasonably.

"So you'll have to cover for us!" Ivy finished. " 'Bye!"

He still looked doubtful. But Nada stepped in and kissed
him, not saying a word. "Uh, sure," he said. He was
Silly Putty in her hands, of course, even though he knew
she didn't love him. It was the mirror image of his asso-
ciation with Electra. He changed into zombie form and
walked back the way they had come. Zombies didn't mind
the smell of wax, so he would be able to brave those stairs
despite Zora's mischief.

They completed their escape. Whatever Dolph had done
must have been sufficient, because no one tried to inter-
cept them. Ivy whistled for Stanley, and in a moment the
dragon whored around the castle and joined them. He
was almost grown now, and soon would have to depart for
the Gap because guarding it was his job. Ivy would be sad
when he left, but knew it was the same as it was with her:

age had its burdens. Meanwhile, he was excellent protec-
tion; they had no fear of wild monsters while in the com-
pany of the tame one.