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

"Quite so." The troll nodded. "That's where this Maiden Morn claptrap comes in. You see, there's one bit
of the ceremony not too many folk know of: The Answered Prayer."



"What's that?"



"It's rather charming, really." A faint smile touched the troll's wide mouth. "If there's a man among the
witnesses who's eager to marry the girl, all he needs do to lay claim to her is wait until the very instant
she utters the last word of the Prayer for a Prosperous Husband, then dash up and winkle himself under
her arm or her cloak or her skirt or something and declare his devotion. He's got to time it just right,
because if he misses the last word by three heartbeats, he's out of luck. But if he's nimble and determined
. . . poof! Instant betrothal."
"Impossible. Such nonsense can't be binding."



"Oh, it is, but only because Duke Janifer's never taken the time to remove the Maiden Morn regulations
from the law scrolls. It's such an old-fashioned custom, I doubt he even knows they're stillтАФ Uh-oh.
What's that?" The bursar's eyes grew great with sudden fear.



What that was, was the sound of Ethelberthina beginning to recite the Prayer for a Prosperous Husband.
Garth gasped. "Sunrise! Quick, Porfirio, toss your cloak over the bursar!"



"Yes, at once, IтАФ" The wizard reached for the clasp of his cloak. A sickly green came over his face as
he realized he hadn't bothered to put one on. Neither had Garth or Zoli.



"For the love of mica, set me free! I'll run back under the bridge!" the troll bellowed.



"Of course, of course!" Dean Porfirio hastened to draw his wand once more. Unfortunately, in his
agitated state the wizard went all butterfingers. He jerked the wand from his belt, promptly lost hold of it,
and watched in horror as it flew off to sink beneath the current of the Iron River.



"Here, Zoli, we can shift him under the bridge," Garth said. "You take his head, I'll take his feet, andтАФ"