"L. Sprague De Camp - The Goblin Tower" - читать интересную книгу автора (De Camp L Sprague)

On and on he went, until some of the spectators grew restless.
True, they did not wish the ceremony over too soon, since it was
the biggest event in then-calendar. On the other hand, when it
came to hearing the unintelligible chant of a scrawny old fakir
and watching him bow his forehead to the platform, a little went
a long way.

Then Karadur rose and embraced Jorian, who towered over
him. The fire in the brazen dish blazed up and sent out a cloud of
smoke, which made those on the platform cough and wipe their
eyes. Thus they failed to see Karadur, at the moment when his
arms were around Jorian's huge torso, slip a small knife into the
hands of the king, which were bound behind him. Karadur
whispered:

"How is your courage, my son?"

"Oozing away with every heartbeat. In sooth, I'm frightened
witless."

"Face it down, boy! In boldness lies your only safety."

Next, the band played a hymn to Zevatas. The high priest, a
gaunt, imposing figure in his purple robe, led the throng in
singing the hymn, beating time with his staff of office.

Then the priest bowed his head and prayed that the lot of
Jorian's successor should fall upon one worthy of the office. He
prayed to the gods to look with favor upon Xylar; he prayed that,
in smiting sinners, they would take care not to harm the far
more numerous virtuous citizens. His prayer was as long as
Karadur's. The head of the cult of the king of the gods could not
let a foreign wizard go him one better.

At last the high priest finished. The Chief Justice read a
proclamation that whereas, in accordance with Xylar's ancient
customs, Jorian's reign had now come to an end, he willingly
offered his head as the means whereby the next king should be
chosen. Judge Grallon finished with a sweeping gesture towards
the block, indicating that Jorian should now lay his head upon it.

"Will Your Majesty have a blindfold?" he asked.

"Nay," said Jorian, stepping towards the block, "I will face
this with my eyes open, as I did the foes of Xylar."

"One moment, your honor," said Karadur in his nasal
Mulvanian accent. "I mustтАФahтАФit was agreed that I should cast
a final spell, to speed King Jorian's soul to the afterworld,
without danger of its being trapped in another incarnation in