"Esther M. Friesner - Troll By Jury" - читать интересную книгу автора (Friesner Esther M)

Troll By Jury
Esther M. Friesner


"I don't know why she's going through with this if she doesn't want to," Garth Justi's-son said as he and
his two companions picked their way along the bank of the Iron River that misty morning. "If you don't
want to do something, don't do it, that's what I always say. Life is simple."



"For the simple-minded, maybe." Garth's wife, Zoli of the Brazen Shield, was all grouches and grizzles.
The erstwhile member of the Swordsisters' Union was in one of her none-too-affable moods.



"You sound even less enthusiastic to be attending this event than Ethelberthina," Garth observed. "She's
got to be there because it's her Maiden MornтАФa girl turns thirteen just once, if she's luckyтАФbut you
didn't have to come."



"Ethelberthina asked us to be there," Zoli shot back. "D'you think I'd do this for anyone else? Poor kid,
she needs us. Otherwise she'll be surrounded by relatives. Her relatives." Even the hardened
ex-swordswoman shuddered at the thought.



"You know, I wonder why she is doing this." Garth rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It's plain she'd rather
die. When I was a lad, a girl had to celebrate her Maiden Morn or there'd be talk, but times have
changed; folk here in Overford think it's old-fashioned. Skip it nowadays and no one blinks an eye, let
alone gossips about it, and you know how we Overfordians love to gossip. Do you think someone's
forcing her?"



"Who's got that sort of power?"



"If she were an ordinary girl, I'd say everyone and the miller's donkey," Garth replied. "But seeing as it's
herтАФ"



"Indeed." Dean Porfirio, head of the Overford Academy and the third member of the wandering party,
gave a fond smile. "I've always said that Ethelberthina Eyebright is a most exceptional child."



"A twelve-year-old who counts a couple of retired sellswords and a wizard as her best friends? Yes, I'd