"Esther M. Friesner - Chicks 05 - Turn The Other Chick" - читать интересную книгу автора (Friesner Esther M)

Calliope appeared, floating about ten feet away from her. "Your first accepted offering! How wonderful.
Are you ready for more experiences?"

Suzanne smiled merrily as she drew Guardian from its sheath. "Sure. Let's talk about it. Could you come
a little closer, please?"

"I'd rather not."

Suzanne drew forth her pen with her other hand. "Have I shown this to you? It's really a nice pen. Come
look."

"No, thank you." Calliope began floating backwards as Suzanne took a step toward her.

Suzanne took another step and Calliope flew away at a faster rate. Still grasping her sword Guardian in
one hand and her pen in the other, Suzanne jumped onto the back of her horse Inconstant and urged him
after the fleeing Muse.

It wasn't until they reached the gate that Suzanne realized Calliope was leading her out of the city again.




A Late Symmer Night's Battle


Laura Frankos

Mustardseed grunted as she tightened the leather straps holding her armor in place. She twisted about,
testing for mobility. Finding one couldn't move in combat could prove deadly . . . that is, assuming one
ever got into combat again. She sighed, and flopped down on the grassy hillock.

"Is it all right?" a tiny anxious voice asked. "Shall I put in a few more stitches, just to make certain they
hold well?"

Mustardseed peered into a mound of dandelions. There, among the gray fluff, she barely made out a
chubby face surrounded by wispy silvery curls. A faint flutter of translucent wings sent dandelion seeds
aloft. Who else but Moth, as pale and flitty as her namesake? If Mustardseed didn't reassure her, she
was apt to tremble so much the nearest fairy ring would be awash in weeds.

"The straps are fine, Moth. Thanks for doing them; I can handle my sword, but not a needle."

"But you werefrowning," Moth said, emerging from the weeds with a shake of her wings.
"Not over your work. I was just thinking how dull it was. It's so confounded peaceful. And now that
Oberon and Titania have kissed and made up, we don't even have the chance to face off against the
king's fairies."

"There's facing off and facing off, dearie," came a voice from behind her. "And some of Oberon's fellas
havenicefaces. Among other things."

Mustardseed didn't really want to hear it. She'd recently broken up with Robin Goodfellow. True, it was