"Gordon R. Dickson - Dragon Knight 04 - The Dragon At War" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dickson Gordon R)

had taught him to seize on any friendships that came his way. He had no idea how Rrrnlf could ever be
useful to him; but it would do no harm to be able to call on him. But the other had already submerged.
тАЬWherever in the ocean-sea I am, your words will reach me!тАЭ said Rrrnlf, suddenly bobbing up again.
тАЬThe sea is full of voices and they go on forever. If you call for me I will hear you no matter where I am.
Farewell!тАЭ
He disappeared once more under the surface.
Jim stood staring at the lake until the disturbed water finally smoothed out, leaving no sign that the giant
had ever been there. Bemusedly, he turned himself back to his actual size; and went back to gathering a
full armful of the blossoms. Then he mounted his war horse, Gorp, who had been standing by,
comfortably munching on some of the soft and sweet grass of the lake margin, and rode off toward his
castle.
It took him only a short time to reach it. He frowned as he rode across the open space-kept open for
defense purposes- between it and the surrounding trees. There was something of a desolate look about
the castle that bothered him. He urged Gorp to a trot; and within a few moments clattered over the logs
of the drawbridge and into the courtyard.
The courtyard was apparently empty. His original feeling of uneasiness became a full-blown foreboding.
He dismounted hastily from Gorp and started toward the front door of the castle. Instantly he was
almost knocked off his feet by being-for all practical purposes-tackled around the knees. He looked
down and saw the agonized face of the castle blacksmith who was still embracing his knees in the
powerful grip of his sleeveless, burn-scarred arms.
тАЬMy Lord!тАЭ cried the blacksmith, who had finally become aware of what was going on since he had
seen the guard running for the castle and shouting about a witch-kettle. тАЬGo not in! The castle is held in a
thrall by a witch-kettle! We are all doomed if you are caught in that thralldom, too! Stand out here in
safety and counter that evil with your magic. Otherwise we are all destroyed forevermore!тАЭ
тАЬDonтАЩt be sil-тАЬ began Jim; then he remembered just in time that the word тАЬsillyтАЭ had a different meaning
in the middle ages. It meant тАЬinnocentтАЭ or тАЬblessedтАЭ-which was not what he meant at the moment. He
decided that the best way out of this situation was the direct, or medieval, method.
тАЬUnhand, dog!тАЭ he snapped, in his best baronial manner. тАЬDo you think I fear thralldom by any
witch-device?тАЭ
тАЬYou... d-donтАЩt?тАЭ stammered the blacksmith.
тАЬAbsolutely not!тАЭ said Jim. тАЬNow, stay here and IтАЩll take care of the matter.тАЭ
The blacksmithтАЩs arms fell away from around his knees and the expression on his face changed to one of
hope as Jim stalked off.
About halfway to the castle door, however, a first small doubt began to nibble at Jim. This was a world
where nothing could be taken for granted; and magic was very much a part of it. Perhaps there actually
were such things as witch-kettles? Perhaps they could indeed hold people in thrall... ?
He shrugged the thought off. He was angry with himself for even thinking it. After all, he reminded
himself, he was a magician, if only a C rated one.
He strode forward and in through the doorway into the Great Hall, continuing on toward the high table at
the HallтАЩs far end.
Within, the walls were crowded with the castleтАЩs servitors. But they were all deathly silent; and all
pressed as far back against the sides of the hall as they could get. On the high table there was indeed a
kettle, that appeared to be steaming; and also-although he could hardly believe it-singing with that steam
in a breathy little voice that nonetheless carried its melody, at least, clearly through the hall.
Standing motionless, looking down at it with the tip of her right forefinger most uncharacteristically in her
mouth, was his wife, the Lady Angela.
No more than those pressed against the wall all around them, did she move or make a sound.

CHAPTER THREE
Jim broke into a run toward the high table. No one had seemed to notice his presence until now, but