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

all right.

CHAPTER 2

Lady

Back at the Blue Demesnes, Stile uninvoked the spells,
became visible and full-weight, and turned Neysa out to
graze. Then he talked to Hulk and the Lady Blue.

"I must meet the Stallion in ritual battle a fortnight
hence," Stile said. "At their Unolympic celebration. This is
for honor, and for the use of Neysa this seasonЧyet I
know not how I can match him, and am bound to suffer

humiliation,"

"Which is what he wants," Hulk said wisely. "Not thy
blood, but thy pride. He wants to take a thing of value
from the Blue Adept, in public, not by theft or by techni-
cality but by right."

The Lady's blue eyes flashed. In this frame, it was lit-
eral: a momentary glare of light came from them. She was
no Adept, but she did have some magic of her own. Stile
remained new enough to Phaze to be intrigued by such
little effects. "No creature humiliates the Blue Adepti" she

cried.

"I am not really he, as the Stallion knows," Stile re-
minded her unnecessarily.

"Thou hast the image and the power and the office," she
said firmly. "It is not thy fault that thou'rt not truly he.
For the sake of the Demesnes, thou canst not let the uni-
corn prevail in this manner."




20 Blue Adept

The preservation of the Blue Demesnes was of course
what this was all about, to her mind. Stile was merely the
figurehead. "I am open to suggestions," he said mildly. "I
would ask the Oracle how I might prevail, had I not ex-
pended my question in the course of achieving my present
status."