"John Morressy - The Questing Of Kedrigern" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morressy John)

JOHN MORRESSY
THE QUESTING OF KEDRIGERN
ACE BOOKS, NEW YORK

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for old times' sake
KEDRIGERN AWOKE TO a glorious golden morning. The air was bright as crystal
and heady as wine, with a gentle reminder of the turning season in its mild
and not unpleasant touch of chill. He breathed deeply, stretched luxuriously,
and without turning, looked out in benevolence at the innocent pale sky. This
was a day to be enjoyed; a day for a picnic, or a long walk in the woods, amid
the reds and golds and tawny browns of autumn. Princess would enjoy such a
day, he thought, and this day would be theirs: no work, no worry, no spells,
just a pleasant holiday for the two of them.
He turned, to wake her gently, and found her already awake, propped up
against her pillow. The little green book of vocabulary-building exercises
that had been her constant study in recent months lay face down on the
coverlet, beneath her folded hands. She was looking thoughtfully out the far
window.
"Good morning, my dear," said Kedrigern, laying his hand on hers. "Lovely
morning, isn't it?"
"Yes, lovely," she said, without shifting her eyes.
"A perfect day for a picnic, I was thinking. We could have Spot make up a
basket, and go to the top of the mountain for the day. Magnificent prospects
from up there."
"I thought you had work to do."
"Nothing pressing," he said, pushing himself up into a sitting position at
her side. "It's much too nice a day to spend


in my study when we might be on Silent Thunder Peak, just the two of us, with
the world at our feet."
"Yes," said Princess, and sighed.
"Is everything all right, my dear? You sound less than delighted."
"Oh, no, Keddie, everything is fine. It's lovely up there this time of year,
and I do enjoy picnics. Very nice of you to think of it. Only ..."
"Only . . . ?"
"Only every time we go anywhere, or do anything, it's always just the two of
us. Aren't we ever going to have company, callers, visitors, or guests? Won't
we ever do any traveling, journeying, or wayfaring, or go on a tour, quest, or
pilgrimage?"
"Of course we'll entertain, my dear. We've already invited Bess to dinner
twice."
"But she didn't come either time."
"And we took that long trip to Castle Grodzik."
"That was a business trip, Keddie."
"Well . . . yes, I suppose it was. But it was a trip. You can't say I never
take you anywhere."
"We returned from Castle Grodzik weeks and weeks ago, Keddie, and we haven't
gone anywhere since then, and no one's come here except people to see you on