"Anthony, Piers - Xanth 04 - Centaur Aisle" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anthony Piers)

I mean. If they thought you were near, that it was just a trial run'

King Trent frowned. "You do not feel up to it?"

"Yes, sir. I don't."

The King sighed. "Dor, I am disappointed but not surprised. I believe
you underestimate yourself, but you are young yet, and it is not my
purpose to cause you unnecessary difficulties. We shall announce that
the Queen and I are taking a week's vacation-a working vacation-and are
allowing you to practice your future craft. I do not believe that is
too great a deviation from the truth. We shall be working, and for me a
visit to Mundania is a vacation. The Queen has never been there; it
will be a novel experience for her. But you will know, privately, that
we shall not be available to help you if there is any problem. Only the
Council of Elders and the other Magicians will know where I am."

Doris knees felt weak. "Thank you, Sir. I'll try not to mess up."

"Do tzy that. See that you do not fall into the moat," King Trent said,
smiling. "And don't let my daughter boss you around; it ill befits a
King." He shook his head. "Hasn't she become a vixen, though? When you
pulled her suit down-"

"Uh-" Dor said, blushing. He had hoped they were safely beyond this
subject.

"She certainly asked for it! The Queen and I are entirely too lenient
with her. I had to threaten to turn Iris into a cactus to keep her

from interfering. And I proved correct; you two worked it out
satisfactorily to yourselves."

Actually, Cherie Centaur had interrupted the struggle; otherwise there
was no guessing where it might have led. For one of the few times in
his life, Dor was thankful, in retrospect, for Cherie's intervention.
Perhaps the King knew that, too.

"Uh, thanks, I mean, yes, sir," Dor agreed weakly. This was almost too
much understanding; the Queen would certainly have dealt with him more
harshly than this. Yet he knew the King had not been joking about the
cactus; easygoing as he seemed, he tolerated absolutely no
insubordination from anyone-which was of course one of his prime
qualities of Kingship.

Unfortunately, Doris own talent was not that forceful. He could

not transform those who opposed him. If he gave an order, and