"Duncan, Dave - A Man Of His Word 02 - Faery Lands Forlorn" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

independence. We draw our strength from the desert, scorning the decadence of
those who dwell in milder climes."
Oh, just juicy! Barbarians.
Again Inos tried the infuriating drapery of gems; again it refused to admit her.
What was Rasha doing? Was Rap all right, or had the impish legionaries finally
broken down the door? Her legs wobbled with weariness, but she must stay close
to this impossible sorcery in the hope that somehow it would lead her home
again.
Azak's eyes had made her think of rubies on first sight, but now they had
darkened to garnets and were regarding her with a haughty stare that reminded
her of Firedragon, the stallion. "You truly have no occult power ... your
Majesty?"
Inos shook her head, feeling weary now beyond speech. A whole world between her
and Krasnegar, and Rap. Rap? Suddenly she realized that, more than anything
else, she wanted Rap here beside her. Solid, dependable, reliable Rap. How
strange! Rap?
The sultan fingered his beard thoughtfully. His feet had not moved since she
entered. They were enclosed in very softlooking shoes that curled up absurdly at
the toes. Certainly not desert wear. Rather decadent, in fact.
"That is indeed curious."
"In what way?" Aunt Kade inquired, casting another worried glance at Inos.
"Because the sorceress slut has cast a spell upon me. By rights you should both
have been turned to stone before now."
"Turned to stone!" Inos and Kade echoed in chorus.
He nodded. "Anyone who grants me my correct honorific . . . I wonder if the
curse works only on my own subjects, not strangers? No, the ambassador from
Shuggaran was smitten."
It would have been kind of him to have mentioned the matter sooner.
"This petrification," Kade murmured, obviously deeply offended by the idea, "is
it ... reversible?"
He glanced in surprise at her-Kade's queries were often much sharper than her
appearance led one to expect. "In the beginning it was not. The first half dozen
or so victims are still statues. Now the jade usually restores them to life
after a week or two."
"That is the most disgustingly stupid thing I have ever heard of!" Inos said.
"I told you-she is a whore, an evil woman, and spiteful. "
"She must also be half-witted, if she did not see what would happen with a spell
like that loose! Six people died before she changed to a sorcery she could
undo?"
He shrugged. "But why were you not immobilized when you gave me my legal title?"
Obviously he had expected it to happen. That realization left Inos at a loss for
words.
"The effects of the curse are limited to the palace itself," the big man mused.
"Can it be that this odious sorcerous chamber is excluded?"
Again Inos looked around. She could see nothing obviously sorcerous, only an
excessive amount of bright-colored furniture, much of it ugly and garish,
intermixed with ill-suited statuary. Nor could she see any doorway. The floor,
where it was visible, was a spectacular mosaic of vines and flowers, all
intricately intertwined and as brightly hued as a swarm of butterflies, but the
effect was ruined by a litter of rugs, as gawdy and mismatched as the furniture.