"01 - Wizard's Bane (b)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Cook Rick)

Aelric smiled, just a hint of a smile. "Let us say we find your pursuers an annoyance. Trolls and such like are uneasy neighbors and were they to find that which they seek they might be encouraged to tarry."
"We thank you for your service."
"The pleasure was mine, Lady," he said with an easy smile and again changed the subject.
For all his charm, Wiz could not warm to their host. There was malice there, Wiz thought, as he listened to the flow of the elf duke's talk. The casual malice of a cat with a mouse. There was alien, and underneath it was boredom. Would it be boring to live forever? Yes, in the end it would be, no matter how rich, how powerful or how skilled you were.
The food was rich and varied. The portions were small but there were many dishes and each plate was brought forth as carefully arranged as if by a master designer. Most of it was unidentifiable. But it was all delicious.
Once Wiz had been taken to one of the fanciest restaurants in San Francisco as part of a dog-and-pony show for a client. The meal had been very much like this. Excellent food, beautifully presented in magnificent surroundings. Except this was better on all counts.
The girl who served them was human. Wiz wondered if she was Lothar's daughter. But she was so quick and efficient and so quiet and downcast she was gone before he could ask the question. Probably not a good thing to ask anyway, he decided uncomfortably.
They had gone through a half a dozen courses of meats, vegetables, sweets and savories when the duke reached out to lay a gentle hand on Moira's wrist, interrupting the story she was telling.
Aelric frowned. "Your pardon Lady, Lord. But it seems we have a caller asking for you."
Wiz froze, his spoon halfway to his mouth.
Aelric listened and then said into the air. "You may speak."
A hazy shimmering began to congeal in the center of the hall but the elf prince raised his hand. "I said you may speak. None enters here unbidden." The half-shadow dissipated until only a little shimmer remained.
"You have two mortals here," wailed a voice, high, thin and reedy with all the despair in the universe.
"What is within this hill is not the business of outsiders."
"You have two mortals," the voice repeated. "We want them."
"Your wants are no concern of mine," Aelric said in a bored tone. "Now speak on matters of interest or begone."
"My master will reward you well," crooned the voice.
The elf duke cocked his head and arched his brows. "It might be of interest to know what your master has that he possibly believes I should want. But not tonight. Say you further?"
"My master offers double what the Council offers for the mortals."
Aelric frowned. "I have no part in mortal quarrels," he said sharply. "What I do, I do because it pleases me and for no other reason. Those who are here stay here and those outside stay outside."
"My master is powerful," the voice wailed. "He is powerful and determined. Give us the mortals."
"Your master is a mortal," Aelric responded. "That is limit enough on his power."
"Will you duel him by magic?" the voice asked.
"Perhaps some other time. Now I am at meat. And you grow tedious."
The voice changed. It deepened and became louder. "GIVE THEM TO US," it roared. "GIVE THEM OR WE SHALL KICK THIS HILL DOWN ABOUT YOUR EARS."
Aelric yawned elaborately. "Tedious indeed," he said. "Now be off with you." He lifted a hand languidly and gestured.
"GIVE US the mortaaalllls. . . ." The voice lessened and died like a train whistle down a tunnel.
Aelric turned to Wiz and Moira and smiled sweetly. "Uncouth creatures. Now, you were saying?"
"Forgive me, Lord," Wiz broke in, "but aren't you afraid he will do something?"
Aelric gave Wiz a look that froze his bones and cleaved his tongue to the roof of his mouth.
"Forgive him, Lord," said Moira quickly. "He is from far away and is unused to our ways. Please forgive him," she begged. "Please."
Aelric cocked his head and stared at Wiz. "Far away indeed, Lady. Very well, but teach him manners." Then his expression softened.
"Know, infant, that this place has stood for aeons and on. It was builded by magic on a foundation of magic and it would take more magic than a mortal could learn in a puny lifetime to touch it or any of mine."
"Yes, Lord," said Wiz, very subdued.
The rest of dinner passed off without incident. Aelric was again the gracious host, diverting and ever attentive to his guests' needs. By the time the last sweets had been removed with nuts in golden bowls and the wine brought forth in crystal flagons, Wiz was almost relaxed.
Almost. He regarded the elf prince in the same light as a friendly lionЧmagnificent, unsettling and not at all someone you wanted to spend time with.
At last Moira yawned delicately behind her hand and Aelric took that as a sign that the dinner was over.
"I should not keep you," he said with a charming smile. "You have had a long day already and severalЧinterestingЧdays before that. May you rest well."
"Thank you, Lord." Moira returned the smile. "And thank you again for your hospitality." She extended her hand and the elf lord raised it to his lips.
"You are more than welcome. Thank you for gracing my table." He turned to Wiz. "And thank you, Lord. It was a privilege to meet someone from so far away."
Wiz bowed as best he could.
"You do not know why you were Summoned then?" Aelric said suddenly.
"Beg pardon?" Wiz asked, confused by this turn of the conversation. "Ah, no Lord."
"Well then," said Duke Aelric with an odd, cold smile. "It will be interesting to see what becomes of you, Sparrow."
"Thank you, Lord," Wiz replied, not sure whether he should be thanking the elf or not.
"Then will we see you again, Lord?" Moira asked.
"I doubt it," Duke Aelric said. "But it will be interesting nonetheless." Again the alien smile, like a rather sleepy cat examining a newly discovered plaything.
"Lady, do you suppose he knows something about me?" Wiz asked as soon as they were back in their rooms.
"He knew who we were," Moira said, yawning and stretching in a way that made her dress swell alarmingly and Wiz's heart nearly stop.
"I mean do you think he knows why Patrius brought me here?"