"Dave Duncan - A Handful Of Men 2 - Upland Outlaws" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

"Right. He tried to destroy me, and I won . . ." Then Rap recalled something else, and looked to Raspnex. "A year ago a God told me that this mess
was all my fault. That must be because I didn't kill Zinixo when I had the chance, and the excuse."


"You did worse than that," Raspnex said grimly. "Much worse. But carry on. Can you explain to these mundanes what you did to my nephew?"


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 Upland Outlaws



As he described how he had rendered the sorcerer impotent by enveloping him in a magic-proof shielding, Rap wondered what error could possibly
have been worse than sparing Zinixo, that vindictive, lecherous, sadistic ...


"So what happened?" the imperor demanded.


Raspnex shrugged his bull shoulders. "Oh, he went totally insane. He'd always been unstable, even as a kid. He'd always been suspicious and timid,
and the greater his power grew, the more timorous he became. You believe that, imp?"


"I've met people like that," Shandie said. "They think the world is out to get them. "


A lot of dwarves thought that way-both Raspnex and Grimrix were notably jumpy now-but Zinixo had carried distrust to the point of obsession.


"So he can't use his magic," the imperor said, frowning. "Why is he dangerous?"


"Because of Bright Water," Rap said. "She couldn't break my spell, either, but she must have taken pity on him. She gave him a sorcerer."


"Gave him?"


Raspnex snorted and snapped his fingers. Young Grimrix stepped forward obediently at the summons, but occult fire flickered faintly again. "Sir?"


"Tell them how you feel about me, sonny."


The boy blushed and looked down at his boots. "I love you. "


"There! See? He's a votary. I've laid a loyalty spell on him. He'll do anything to help me." Raspnex glanced at the kid, showing his pebble teeth
again. "He'd die for me! Actually, his power's greater than mine. It took three of us to hobble himme and two of my other votaries. Now do you