"Robert Don Hughes - Pelman 01 - The Prophet Of Lamath" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hughes Robert Don)

removed the scarf that had gagged the young woman's mouth.
Free from her bonds at last, she leapt to her feet on the satin and brocade pillows of the litter and, pointing a finger at
Pezi, shouted, "You fat little Lamathian mudgecurdle! I'll have the royal chefs carve your belly and roast a hunk of it
for-" Pelman clapped a hand over the girl's mouth and struggled to hold her quiet while saying, "Of course, the lady is
a bit upset at the moment . . ." "Quit that!" she managed to blurt out around his hand, and he let go of her as she
fought her way out of the litter. She straightened her robes and lifted her chin, and muttered "Where's the dragon?" to
Pelman. He pointed behind her, and she swept grandly around to get her first good look at this beast she had heard so
much about.

Pelman heard her sharp grunt, and he put his hands on her shoulders to steady her. She backed into the security of his
arms, and gasped, "He's . . . big . . ." "As I said," continued Pelman, "a Princess of impeccable manners and great
modesty. Try not to shake so much, will you?" he added quietly in the girl's ear.

"You think I'm doing this on purpose?" she whispered back.

Vicia-Heinox sat back on his hind legs, and raised his heads high into the air.

"What do I do now?" Vicia muttered.

"What do I mean, do now?" Heinox asked.

"With this caravan. I'm not hungry. I don't need any new jewels. What does this merchant have that I want?" "I don't
know, what does he have that I want?" "The girl perhaps?" Vicia asked. "After all, she is a Princess, and there must be
something important to that. Otherwise, why would they clothe her in such delicate wrappings?" This statement was
overheard by the little group below, and Bronwynn gathered her gown around her and shivered.

"Perhaps Princesses taste better than ordinary folk," Heinox suggested.

"Perhaps . . . perhaps I should . . ." "If I might interrupt, I believe you would be wasting this Princess if you were to eat
her. Consider keeping her, as a-a companion," said Pelman.

"Thanks a lot!" the girl whispered fiercely. Pelman squeezed her tight and leaned down to her ear. "Try to be quiet and
I may be able to extract us from this." She stopped her struggling, and listened.

"A companion. I could do that," Heinox said.

"If I knew what a companion is," Vicia added.

"A companion is someone you spend your time with, talk to, learn from. A companion can be a friend." Pelman noticed
Bronwynn was gripping her ears and scowling at this.

"A friend?" Vicia said. "But I don't need a friend. I have . . . myself." And that gave Pelman an idea.

"Ah. I understand." He indicated Vicia. "You have him." He indicated Heinox. "And he has you. And you are friends."
Vicia-Heinox looked at himself, then both of his heads looked at Pelman. "What?" the dragon asked. "I have myself
and I have myself?" "Not quite the idea," Pelman went on quietly. "I mean you have each other." "Each other?" Vicia
asked. "He isn't another, he is I. I think," he added.

"He who?" Pelman asked.