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

underestimate fools."



In the center of the sand-strewn ring, Duke Janifer stood between the two combatants and nervously
asked, "Ladies, are you certain you wouldn't like to reconsider?"



"I would," Zoli said. "It's not combat, it's bloody murder. I've eaten seafood that had more hope of killing
me than this idiot." She gestured scornfully at Goodwife Eyebright. "Plus, she looks ready to drop her
calf any second now. One needless death on my hands is bad enough, but two?"



"Will you withdraw?" Duke Janifer turned to Goodwife Eyebright, entreating her with his eyes.
"Pleeease?"



Ethelberthina's mother stood herself up a bit taller and held the sword she'd been given as though it were
a carpet beater. "I'd sooner die."



"I was afraid you'd say that." The duke sighed, shrugged, and tossed a bright orange kerchief high into
the air. As he dashed from the arena he called back over one shoulder, "When it hits the ground, start
fighting!"



The audience gasped and held its breath. Zoli went into her preferred fighting stance, grim and silent, eyes
fixed on the floating kerchief. Goodwife Eyebright, on the other hand, began jabbering the instant the bit
of cloth left the duke's hand.



"My gracious, aren't you in a hurry? I'm sure it's not going to take you long to kill me, but don't you
worry about that. Nor about the poor, innocent, unborn babe I'm carrying that never did anyone a bit of
harm. Nor about all my poor little lambkins that'll be left orphaned and helpless, oh no, don't you give any
of them a second thought! Mayor Eyebright will probably remarry quick enough, and then they'll have a
stepmother, and who knows what she'll be like? But don't you fret over it, you've done your duty, you
don't have to bother your head about whether they'll be decently clothed and fed and who'll tuck them
into their cold, lonesome little beds of a winter's night with not even the comfort of a loving mother's kiss
on their tiny, tear-stained faces, no. Don't you concern yourself over their bitter tears or their
heartbreaking sobs or theirтАФ"



"Gnut save us, what's the wretch doing?" Garth exclaimed.