"John DeChancie - Castle 04 - Castle War" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dechancie John)

тАЬWhat goes, magician? Communicating with your spirits again?тАЭ

тАЬNo, I phoned home.тАЭ

тАЬEh?тАЭ

тАЬSent a message.тАЭ The magician sat down on a flat stone by the fire. тАЬTo my family.тАЭ

тАЬAh. Things go well, I trust.тАЭ

тАЬNo, unfortunately not. There is trouble, and I must leave to attend to it.тАЭ

Gart was dismayed. тАЬBut we fight in the morning!тАЭ

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 Castle War



тАЬMy apprentices can handle it. Besides, you have the advantage in numbers.тАЭ

тАЬI was counting on a supernatural advantage, magician.тАЭ

тАЬYou will have it. Fire spells, forfending spells, zone-of-death curses, everything.тАЭ

тАЬBut you are more skilled than any apprentice, and skill is all in these things.тАЭ

тАЬThe spells are simple, because magic тАФ here, at least тАФ is a simple matter. And not very potent, either.
I have told you many times that if you win the day, it will be by dint of superior military talent and
cunning. These you have in adequate supply.тАЭ

тАЬThat IтАЩm capable is true enough. But any extra leverage, however slight, is desirable.тАЭ Gart threw down
the haunch and picked up a wineskin. тАЬIтАЩm afraid you will have to stay, magician.тАЭ

The magician said quietly, тАЬIтАЩm afraid that will not be possible.тАЭ

Gart tilted the skin and a stream of wine poured into his mouth. He grimaced and spat it out, threw down
the skin. тАЬSoured! Damn that provisioner. IтАЩll have him hoisted by his stones and left to savor like a
game hen.тАЭ

The magician was silent.

Avoiding the other manтАЩs gaze, Gart searched the night sky. The fire crackled, and insects buzzed.

Suddenly the warlordтАЩs head swung around, mouth twisted into a sneer. тАЬVery well, go! You know I
canтАЩt force you to stay. Bear in mind, though тАФ I wonтАЩt forget. When next the nobles sit in council, I
will vote against you on every issue! I will be a thorn in your foot, a canker on your lip. I will block
you!тАЭ

тАЬYou would do that, anyway.тАЭ