"Anthony, Piers - Adept - 02 - Blue Adept" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anthony Piers)

The Stallion smiled. "An thou dost fail, I win mine. We
contest not for life here, but only for the proper priority of
our claims. I claim the right to breed my mares as I see fit
and in mine own time; thou claimest the bond of friend-
ship to this mare. It ill behooves us two to strive against
each other on any except a civil basis."

"Agreed." Stile certainly had no need of a life and death
combat here! He had hoped a simple request would suffice,
but evidently he had been naive. "Shall we proceed to it
now?"

The Stallion affected amazement. "By no means. Adept!
I would not have it bruited about that I forced my suit
against one who was ill-prepared. Protocol requires that a
suitable interval elapse. Shall we say a fortnight hence, at
the Unolympics?"

"The Unolympics?"




16

Blue Adept

Blue Adept

17

"The annual sportive event of our kind, parallel to the
Canolympics of the werewolves, the Vampolympics of the
batmen, the Gnomolympics ofЧ"

"Ah, I see. Is Neysa to compete therein?"

The Stallion evidently hadn't considered that. "She has
not before, for reasons we need not discuss. This year I
believe she would be welcome."

"And no apology to be made for any nuance of color or
size that any less discriminating creatures might note?"

"None, of course."

Stile did not like the delay, but also knew he had no
serious chance against the Stallion, who looked to weigh a
full ton, was in vibrant health, and had quite a number of
victory notches on his horn. The creature was in fact pro-