"John Morressy - Cold Comfort" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morressy John)

тАЬDid he tell you how to deal with him?тАЭ

тАЬNot exactly. But he taught me lots of runes and charms and secrets and all.
Come inside the hovel and IтАЩll tell you all I know.тАЭ

The air was much more breathable inside BessтАЩs tumble-down hovel, and
Kedrigern seated himself comfortably while she related all she knew of Harmr and
the lore of frost giants and their ways, their powers and potency and their weakness.
тАЬThey can cause you a lot of trouble with their runes and charms, but the one thing
that will protect you is the spell against camel bites. It works beautifully against frost
giants. Do you know it?тАЭ

Kedrigern brightened and sat forward. тАЬAs a matter of fact, I just used it! An
old client of mine has been given a camel, and heтАЩs terrified of being bitten. IтАЩm just
back from putting the bite-protection spell on him.тАЭ

тАЬWell, that will keep you safe from HarmrтАЩs magic. But heтАЩs a clever one,
Keddie. If he finds that his magic doesnтАЩt work, heтАЩll try trickery. And Harmr is full
of tricks.тАЭ

тАЬIтАЩll be on the lookout.тАЭ

тАЬOne thing more: do you have anything of PrincessтАЩs with you? Harmr usually
works a charm for forgetfulness on the people he carries off, and only a familiar
possession can counter it.тАЭ

тАЬI packed a nice warm cloak of hers, and boots, and a pair of mittens. And a
few trinkets she likes.тАЭ
 тАЬVery sensible. SheтАЩll need them. And take this for yourself,тАЭ the wood-witch
said, handing him a slender crystal vial. тАЬIt ought to be a great help. ItтАЩs the pure
potion. Oldest recipe in the world, that is.тАЭ

Kedrigern took the vial. It was about the size of his index finger and contained
perhaps two spoonfuls of milky liquid. He gave Bess a smile of professional
approval. тАЬItтАЩs warm. ItтАЩs wonderfully warm.тАЩ

тАЬKeep it close to you, and you wonтАЩt feel the cold no matter how much of it
Harmr turns against you. ItтАЩll keep your horse warm, too, as long as youтАЩre near him.
But whatever you do, donтАЩt drink it.тАЭ

тАЬPowerful, is it?тАЭ

тАЬWhat youтАЩve got there is enough to melt Harmr and his castle and half the
icebergs in the northern seas, and turn everything in sight into something else. DonтАЩt
be careless with it. Consider it a last resort.тАЭ

тАЬI will, Bess. And thanks from all three of us.тАЭ

тАЬGlad to help you, Keddie. I owe you a lot, after all the trouble I caused youтАЭ