"L. Sprague De Camp - The Unbeheaded King" - читать интересную книгу автора (De Camp L Sprague)

"You can't blame me about the high priestess- I had
little choice in that matter "

"Aye; but there were othersтАФ"

lorian snorted. "I try to be faithful to Estnidis, but I'm
not yet able, after long abstinence, calmly to dismiss un-
plumbed a fair lass who crawls into bed with me, begging
that I pleasure her. When I reach your age, perhaps my
self-control will be equal to the challenge "

Karadur said "How know you the Xylanans have not
bestowed your Estnidis upon another^'
"They hadn't when my brother Kenn was there, re-
pairing their clocks. I suspect they save her as bait for me.
Through Kenn, I got word to her to hold out."

"Suppose her affections prove less perdurable than
yours7 Suppose she, too, has found agreeable the company
of another of the opposite sex7"

"Ridiculous'" snapped )onan "She always told me I
was her true love, and I trust her as far as I trust any
mortal."

"Ah, but ofttimes AstisтАФthe goddess whom we in
Mulvan call LaxanтАФafflicts the steadiest of mortals with

THE UNBEHEADED KING

a passion that overrides the weightiest resolves and the
most cogent reasonmgs Misprize not the havoc that fate
and the vagaries of human nature can make with our sob-
erest plans As said the wise Cidam, 'Blessed be he who
expecteth the worst, for venly he shall ne'er be disap-
pointed '"

Jonan scowled "You mean, let's suppose she has will-
ingly suffered some knave to mount her in my absence7
1 suppose it could happen Since I was the best swordsman
in Xylar, excepting Tartomo, the fencing master who taught
me, I should easily skewer the villain Some would say to
slay the woman, too, but I'm too chicken-hearted "

"You say you love her, nght7"

"Aye, desperately "

"Then you would fain not wantonly render her un-