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

"Don't you use that tone of voice to me, young lady! I gave you a choice: I said you didn't have to do
this. I told you that it didn't matter to me if my life became a living hell because all the neighbors would
talk about how your sisters had their Maiden Morns but you didn't. A mother doesn't mind a little living
hell. You agreed to this, I never forced you, you were the one whoтАФ" She began to weep without once
slacking the pace of her ongoing rant until Ethelberthina loudly reassured her mother that yes, she would
recite the Prayer letter-perfect and no, she did not deserve such a devoted parent, wicked and ungrateful
child that she was. Goodwife Eyebright's tears dried up faster than a used-ox merchant's guarantees.
Garth looked at Zoli. "Well, that explains that."



"I'll say," said Zoli. "Poor child never had a chance. Who ever thought of motherhood as a deadly
weapon?" It was a concept of startling novelty to a woman whose best defense had always been killing
the other person first. "We should be over there, standing by her in her hour of need, giving her a little
moral support. And we would be, too, if a certain wizard I could mention wasn't such a baby." She gave
Dean Porfirio a significant look.



"You could always swim across," the wizard responded coldly.



"Dressed like this?" Zoli clanged a fist against her iron breastplate.



"It's not every woman who can bear four children and still fit into her wedding-day garb, eh, Dean?"
Garth preened as if the credit were all his.



"Impressive," said a rough and rumbly voice that did not belong to Dean Porfirio. It came from just under
the bridge and was followed by the sound of stone grating against stone as a squat, blocky shape came
half-walking, half-rolling into view.



"Ah, good morning, Bursar Tailings," said Dean Porfirio.



"Morning is never good to my kind," the troll replied. "Not unless it's cloudy with a chance of showers.
Sunlight tends to turn our skin to stone and work its way inward from there."



"It's nearly sunrise," Garth said. "What are you doing out-of-doors at this hour?"