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

one overlong arm for inspection. It resembled the surface of a badly baked clay pot, all flakes and
cracks. "My internal petrification's just this short of fatal. I'm living on quarried time. One more major
dose of sunlight will do me in."



"That wasn't very smart of you."



"Show me the young creature, troll or human, who doesn't think he's immortal, that the rules don't apply
to him," the bursar countered.



"Looks like you'd best talk fast, then," Zoli suggested.
The troll scowled at her so hard that rock dust trickled down his nose. "Very well, I'll make it short and
sweet. Unlike some retired swordsisters I could mention. This very morn marks the day of Goodwife
Eyebright's revenge."



"Took her long enough. Good for her! How'd she kill him?"



"Not him. It's not her husband she wants snaggled. Everyone in Overford with half a brain knows that
Goodwife Eyebright's greatest grudge stands against her youngest daughter."



"Half a brain . . . that sums up most of this town," Zoli mused.



Garth jabbed her to silence with his elbow. "Why would any sane mother resent her own child?" he
asked. "And such a bright one, too!"



"I'll paint you a picture," said the troll. "All that Ethelberthina's ma could ever do with her life was marry
and breed. Many a woman's happy keeping house, but only when it was her choice to go that road, not
her last resort. Like you, ma'am." He rolled his eyes at Zoli.



"I see," the former swordsister said. "Goodwife Eyebright had to marry so she wants her daughters to do
the same. The thought of Ethelberthina having opportunities she never had riles her."