"Chalker, Jack L - DG2 - Demons of the Dancing Gods" - читать интересную книгу автора (Chalker Jack L)

that, had you actually gone to attend to them instead of me,
we would have won. While my far greater magic was powerless
against them, you could have frozen them to statues or turned
them to toads with a flick of your wrist. Ruddygore is clever --
he foresaw in the Mazes of Probabilities that such a situation
might occur and prepared for it -- but his advantage is now
known. Once known, his schemes are of no consequence. I
think we have seen Ruddy gore's bag of tricks. He will not
expect us to act again so soon, and we will not give him the
time to prepare more tricks and traps."

"You have a plan, then?"

"You still control a quarter of Husaquahr. Your army is a
good army, perhaps the greatest ever raised here, and it retired
from the field intact and in good order. In the end, it was
geography that defeated us, as it has defeated all past con-
quering armies here. Even without the Lamp, we almost carried
the day, nor could our enemies mount a credible counterattack.
They won in the end because geography told them where we
must meet and they were there, well fortified and in the defen-
sive positions of their choice. Eliminate the geographical fac-
tors and we will carry any battle."

"But how do you eliminate geography?" the Baron asked,
fascinated but skeptical.

"With me, you are the equal of six of the Council," Hiccarph
told him. "We have the power. Now listen, my impudent in-
strument, as to how it will be used."

CHAPTER 2

VISITS WITH OLD FRIENDS

The fairies may belong fully to no human orders, nor their political
parties.

-- The Books of Rules, LXIV, 36(b)

THE GLEN DINIG WAS A PLACE OF MAGIC AND MYSTERY. THE

sacred grove of trees along the banks of the River of Dancing
Gods was but a few hours north of the great castle Terindell
at the confluence of the Rossignol and the Dancing Gods, yet
it might as well be on another planet. Legends abounded con-
cerning it, but few had actually seen it and fewer still dared to
penetrate its depths. Even those who scoffed at the legends and
tall tales nonetheless admitted that there was a strong spell on
the place; no human male could enter it, no matter from what