"Simon Hawke - Sorcerer 3 - The Ambivalent Magician" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hawke Simon)

"Nonsense. The scrying crystal is functioning perfectly," Warrick insisted. "And as Warrick redoubled his
prodigious powers of concentration, despite all the efforts of the Narrator, the swirling eddies in the
crystal started to resolve into an image -"

No, they didn't. And cut that out.

"Despite all his narrative wiles, the voice in the ether could not control the image that started to resolve
within the crystal as Warrick concentrated fiercely, and in answer to his will, the swirling mists within the
scrying crystal cleared, revealing -"

There was a tremendous crash as Teddy the troll tripped over some ancient vellum tomes that had fallen
to the floor and knocked into the table, dislodging the scrying crystal from its ornate pedestal and causing
it to roll across the table and plummet to the floor, where it shattered into a thousand pieces.

"Ooops," said Teddy.

"You miserable, misbegotten warthog! Now see what you've done!" Warrick shouted angrily, his chair
crashing to the floor as he jumped to his feet and fixed a baleful glare on the frightened little troll.

"Forgive me, Master! I... I didn't mean it! It was an accident!"

"I think not," said Warrick, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "'Twas the Narrator, working his wiles upon
you to interfere with me. I begin to see the method in his craft. He strikes at me through you."

"But, Master, I would never betray you!"

"No, not willingly," Warrick replied, "but your will is too weak to resist the powers of the Narrator. So
long as you remain with me, he can use you as a weapon with which to thwart my plans. That leaves me
with no choice. I must be rid of you."

"Master..." the little troll said fearfully. "Master, please! I have always served you faithfully!"

"And in reward for your years of faithful service, I shall not take your life," said Warrick. "But henceforth,
Teddy, you are banished from my presence. Go. Leave me. You are free."

"But, Master ..." wailed the little troll miserably, "where shall I go? What shall I do?"

"I don't know, go hide under a bridge or something. Isn't that what trolls usually do?"

"Under a bridge?" said Teddy. "But, Master, 'tis cold and damp underneath bridges! I shall catch a chill!
And however shall I live?"

"Eat billy goats," said Warrick. "Consume the occasional small child. There are plenty of them running
about unsupervised, painting graffiti on the bridges. You would only be doing the kingdom a service if
you ate them. I'm sure no one would complain. Now get along, Teddy, I have work to do."

"Master, please ... don't send me away!" wailed Teddy. "I don't even like children!"

"You have a very simple choice, Teddy," Warrick said. "You may either take your freedom and go make