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

It was not any mare's prerogative to gainsay the Herd
Stallion. Stile would have to do that himself, as the Blue
Adept. In the informal but rigorous hierarchy of this
world, herd-leaders, pack-leaders, tribe-leaders and Adepts
were roughly equivalent, though the ultimate power lay




6 Blue Adept

with the Adepts. Stile would deal with the Herd Stallion as
an equal.

First he had to settle things at the Blue Demesnes. Stile
talked with his human bodyguard from the other frame,
Hulk. Hulk was as big as Stile was small: a towering mass
of muscle, expert in all manner of physical combat but not,
despite the assumption of strangers, stupid.

"It is necessary that I leave this castle for a day or so,"
Stile told him. "I must negotiate with the unicorn Herd
Stallion, and I cannot summon him here."

"That's for sure," Hulk agreed. "He never did have
much of a liking for you. Uh, for thee. I'd better go with
thee. That unicorn is one tough character."

"Nay, friend. I am in no danger from the unicorns. It is
the Lady Blue I worry about. I wish thee to guard her in
mine absence, lest my nameless enemy strike at me
through her. Thou hast not magicЧat least, thou hast not
practiced it; but if no others know I am gone there should
be no hostile spells. Against else, thy skills suffice as well as
mine."

Hulk made a gesture of acquiescence. "She is surely
worth guarding."

"Yes. She maintained the Blue Demesnes after her lord,
mine alternate self, was murdered. Without her help I
could not fill this office of Adept. I have the power of
magic, but lack experience. I am reminded daily of this."
Stile smiled wryly, remembering how the Lady Blue had
just set him straight about Neysa. "AndЧ"

"And she is an extraordinarily attractive woman," Hulk
finished. "A magnet for mischief."

"Mine alternate self had excellent taste."