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

тАЬHis Majesty is too gracious a host.тАЭ

тАЬNo amenity must be spared a true and faithful servant.тАЭ

тАЬI fear I am not quite that, sire.тАЭ

тАЬNo? Perhaps not. Perhaps тАШservantтАЩ is not the proper designation. Can you think of one more apt?тАЭ


file:///K|/eMule/Incoming/John%20DeChancie%20-%20Castle%2004%20-%20Castle%20War.html (5 of 255)23-12-2006 0:24:58
 Castle War

Sir Gene smiled thinly. тАЬI am sure His Majesty can supply any number more apt.тАЭ

тАЬTraitor, perhaps? Regicide?тАЭ

тАЬFailed regicide,тАЭ the prisoner corrected.

тАЬMurderous villain?тАЭ The KingтАЩs voice boomed inside the dark chamber. тАЬFoul usurper?тАЭ

Sir Gene shrugged. тАЬAgain, unsuccessful. Regarding murder, may I remind His Majesty that I learned
the art at the knees of a true master. You тАФ тАЭ

The Guardsman to the right drove a mailed fist into the prisonerтАЩs side just under the rib cage. The
prisoner doubled up and sank to his knees. He was some time in getting up again.

A silent, fluttering movement in the darkness above. Another bat.

The King settled back in his throne. тАЬYou learned not well enough.тАЭ

Sir Gene drew a painful breath before answering. тАЬHow well I know.тАЭ

тАЬWe have more lessons to teach. There is the discipline of the wheel, for instance. And the brand, and
the boot.тАЭ

тАЬAh.тАЭ

тАЬYou hide your fear well. But you will scream as loudly as the others.тАЭ

тАЬI trust it will amuse His Majesty to contemplate that this time the victim will not be entirely innocent.тАЭ

A royal scowl. тАЬSpoils the fun, really.тАЭ

тАЬTrue, true.тАЭ

тАЬBut weтАЩll do our best to enjoy the proceedings.тАЭ The King sighed. тАЬThere is not much else to say. But I
suppose protocol demands that I pronounce sentence.тАЭ He raised his right hand, took a long breath, then
said hurriedly, тАЬBy the right and power vested in me I hereby condemn you to a deliciously prolonged
death with all the trimmings.тАЭ He grinned.