"John Morressy - Reflection" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morressy John)

"Remove the cloth. We want to see the mirror," said the king.

Kedrigern dismissed the servants, then removed the heavy cloth himself. It took
a bit of effort.

"Why didn't you have the servants do that?" Sigert asked.

"Just a precaution, Your Majesty. I don't want them looking into the mirror
until I've had a chance to test it out."

Sigert took a step back, away from the mirror. "Have you brought a dangerous
object into this palace without testing it?"

"I've checked it for curses and trick spells, Your Majesty. I can assure you
that it's perfectly safe."

Sigert looked relieved. "That's better. What else do you have to do before we
can use it?"

"Well, I know it talks. I have to determine whether it has other powers, and if
it does, which ones we want to utilize. The man who sold me the mirror didn't
know much about it. He wasn't even certain that it was magic, but I could tell
right away."

The king looked less relieved. "Could it be dangerous?"

"Not dangerous, Your Majesty. At worst it might be...." Kedrigern paused to
search for a less alarming term and at last said, "Unpredictable. Tricky.
Surprising."

"We do not like surprises in our palace," said Sigert, frowning. "We want
nothing untoward to happen to Her Majesty."

"There is no danger, I assure you, Your Majesty."

The king pondered. Over the years, besides putting on weight, Sigert had become
pompous and self-important, but he was no more so than other kings, and less so
than many. He really did love Brissault, and wanted to make her happy once
again. He lacked not good will, but comprehension. He simply could not
understand how a woman married to him and reigning at his side could be unhappy.

He studied the mirror, extending a hand to touch the frame but stopping short of
actual contact. He concealed his hesitation under a spacious gesture and said,
"It's nicely made. We like all those little cherubs and ribbons and bands of
flowers."
"Exquisite, isn't it? You don't often get that kind of workmanship in a magic
mirror. People seem to think that if it's magic, it doesn't have to look good,
"Kedrigern said, frowning at the thought of such an unprofessional attitude.