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

thunk. "You skip my big party because you're off taking a trip to the moon with Miss Gossamer Wings
herself, slutty Cinnabar. Get out before I throw something heavier at you."

Robin, rubbing the bump on his head, flashed that devastating smile on Mustardseed. "Mussy, honey, it's
a long trip I'm making . . ."

"How nice. We can rejoice in your lengthy absence. Now why don't you show off that vaunted speed of
yours and exit, preferably pursued by a bear?"

"Be that way, then." He buzzed off around a hedgerow, but the pair could hear him faintly. "Aurora,
darling of the day! Had to make my farewells . . ."

Mustardseed and Peaseblossom looked at each other over their foxes' backs and burst out laughing.
"He must be collecting good-bye smooches," Peaseblossom said.

"Probably timed his departure to the split second." Mustardseed scratched Mr. Tod's elegant nose. He
whined in sympathy.

"Trouble is, Robin can kiss better than damn near anyone. The rat."

"More to life than kissing. Let's report to General Pard."

***

At the next sundown meeting, the officers gave a briefing on the enemy's movements. A captured kobold
had explained the reason behind their invasion: they had been peacefully working in the silver mines in
northern Greece when a bunch of humans evicted them. He said their families were homeless and the
men couldn't find suitable jobs anywhereтАФbut the officials warned this might be a play for sympathy.

"Whatever troubles they might have had, they can't barge in here and steal our homes," thundered
General Pard from atop his panther. "Cheeky Hun devils! Their General Hinzelmann is a nasty piece of
work, too. Rides on a snake, if you can imagine it! Beats his own soldiers with a stick; heard he's dared
to use it on humans, too! Scandalous! A hefty reward to any fairy that disposes of this vermin! Now take
your positions. They're expected by midnight."

The battle proved to be more of a skirmish. Clearly, General Hinzelmann was feeling out the fairies'
strength. He had superior numbers, more infantry than cavalry and few archers, but they were scrawny
bastards. A stick-thin kobold on a weasel, who barely looked able to hold his own shield, managed to
break Mustardseed's spear in a brief but fierce tussle. The others she fought with showed the same
intense determination: physically weak, but fueled by obvious desperation.

The hedgehog armor did considerable damage to their line, until Hinzelmann himself rattled the nerve of
the prickly creatures as he slithered by on a huge snake and laid about him with a great, walloping stick.
Mustardseed tried getting near the enemy leader, but soon had to abandon her plans. One of the kobold
colonelsтАФa tall fellow, very dark blue and wearing a weird black felt capтАФled his division in a clever
feint on the right side, cutting off a dozen fox-riders from the main force, Peaseblossom among them.
 Fortunately, the commander of the owl-riders immediately sent air support. Mustardseed spurred Mr.
Tod into the fray, followed by other cavalry. She managed a swing at the clever colonel, but his beast, a
pine marten with a striking orange patch on its breast, turned aside just in time. He had the effrontery to
tip his cap and grin at her, his teeth white under a neatly trimmed black mustache. The tide of battle soon