"John Morressy - Conhoon and the Fairy Dancer" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morressy John)

and went up in a puff of smoke and a jangle of music to do their mischief
elsewhere. And there was the fair Noreen with her hand like a lobster claw."

"Tell me, did the one who spelled her have a squinty eye and his nose twisted
over to one side?"

"That is the one," said Corbal, glowering at the memory.

"I've heard of him and his tricks. 'Twisty Mike' is his name, and it fits his
ways as well as it fits his nose."

"I will put another twist into him if I can find him. But the People Outside
Us
are hard to find, and impossible to see when they're found, and dangerous to
deal with when they're seen. I need a charm to assist me, and you're the man
to
work the charm."

Conhoon's brows rose. "It's no simple feat you ask, boyo. The charm will not
work unless I'm at your side when you face Twisty Mike. We could spend the
rest
of our lives seeking the fairy host and find nothing."

Corbal arose and regarded the wizard with disdain. "You'll not help me, then."

"Did I say so? Calm yourself. Blind Liam once did me a service, and I'm not
your
man to leave a debt unpaid. It may be that a word in the right place will get
the job done."

Corbal's smile of joy and relief was like a ray of sunlight. "It's forever
grateful I'll be to you. You will have more gold than you can carry, and the
thanks of all my family. We will sing your praise at every feast and name all
our sons after you."

Conhoon mumbled, waved Corbal's words off impatiently, and made ready to
depart.
It required little time. He took down a pair of thick woven belts with iron
buckles worked in an intricate design. Fastening one about his own waist, he
handed the other to Corbal.

"Do you take this and wear it, and don't take it off until I tell you to."

"It is too small to go about my waist."

"Then wrap it around your leg. And buckle it well. The Good People don't like
the presence of iron. And the belt has a spell on it, too."

"Haven't you a charm to protect us?"