"(ebook) Anthony Piers - Xanth 19 - Roc and a Hard Place" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anthony Piers)

"Yes, but hasn't he looked at nymphs out the window,
with a glint in hisЧ?"

"Pleased to meet you," Veleno gritted, drawing free a
hand and extending it. "Now will you begone?"

"Charmed, I'm sure," Mentia said, forming a pair of pin-
cers on the end of her arm.

"Ixnay," Metria murmured wamingly. "Mortals are pro-
tected from harm in this castle."

"Oh, that's right," Mentia agreed, disappointed. The pin-
cers became an ordinary hand, which shook Veleno's hand.
"That was one of the conditions of the restoration. Well,

Roc AND A HARD PLACE 5

now that your mortal man and I have been properly intro-
duced, I will give you what you most need, Metria."

At last! But Metria still wasn't easy about this. "Veleno,
dearest, why don't you take a little snooze for the moment?"
Metria suggested dulcetly, covering his eyes with her hand.

"But what could you need that I have not provided?" he
asked, frowning.

"Yes, I'm sure he will be really, truly interested in this
very important secret matter," Mentia said, sitting on the
edge of the bed, so that her thigh touched Veleno.

"Oh, all right," Metria said, really crossly.

"Have no concern, dear, I will explain it excruciatingly
clearly," Mentia said. "What I bring is information to help
abate your incapacity, so you won't be a failure anymore."

' 'What incapacity?'' Veleno demanded.' 'My wife has made
me deliriously happy almost continuously since we married."

"That is the problem," Mentia said. "She has helped you
with the chore of summoning the stork seven hundred and
fiftyЧ" she peered again "Чand a half times this year, and
more times during the prior year when I was too busy to be
with her, unfortunately, and yet the stork has not gotten the
message. She is clearly inadequate in this department."

Veleno pondered, slowly realizing the truth of this state-
ment. "That hadn't occurred to me," he said. "I was too