"Mercedes Lackey & Josepha Shennan - Castle of Deception" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lackey Mercedes)

quest, my fine young hero. More of an errand. A
longer one than usual, and further away than most,
but an errand never the less."

"Oh." Kevin struggled to keep the disappointment
from his face. I should have known better. Just another stupid



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errand.

"What I want you to do," the Bard continued, "is go
to the casde of Count Volmar тАФ "

"And deliver a message from the King?" At least that
would be something halfway dramatic!

"And copy a manuscript for me," his Master cor-
rected, looking down his long nose at the bardling.
"You're to copy it тАФ copy it exactly, understand тАФ and
bring the copy back to me."

Kevin barely silenced a groan. "Is it very long?"

"I believe so."

And it was probably unbearably dull, too. "But,
Master," Kevin asked desperately, "why don't you just
ask them to send the manuscript to you?"

"No! It's too valuable to be moved."

Naturally. "If you want it copied exactly," the
bardling said as casually as he could, "why not hire a
trained scribe тАФ "

"No!" For a startling moment, the Bard's face was so
fierce Kevin could almost believe the heroic tales- But
then the fierceness faded, leaving only a weary old man
behind. "I have given you your orders. The
manuscript you are to copy is known as The Stvdy of
Ancient Song. It is approximately three hands high and
one and a half hands wide, and is bound in plain, dark
brown leather that, I imagine, must be fairly well worn
by now. The title may or may not be embossed on the
spine, but it should be printed clearly enough on the