"Morressy, John - NestEgg" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morressy John)

"It's too soon to say. But I've learned a few things. Maybe you can help me."

"We are at your service," said Eldry with queenly dignity. "Anything for our
dear Cecil."

"How long has he been like this?"

"Since the spring," Eldry said, and Ashel nodded and added, "Early in the
spring."

"Has it ever happened before?"

"Never," they said in one voice.

"Did he eat anything unusual? Catch a chill? Sustain an injury? Did you observe
any odd behavior?" the wizard asked, receiving an unequivocal negative each
time.

Eldry began, "He was perfectly fine. At the end of winter he gave his lair a
thorough cleaning and built himself a lovely new nest of fresh straw --"

"And then he got sick," Ashel broke in.

Kedrigern nodded and stroked his chin thoughtfully, doing his best to convey an
impression of confidence. "Thank you both. You've been a help."

Ashel tugged at the wizard's sleeve. "Do you know what's wrong?"

"Can you fix it?" Eldry asked.

"I've narrowed my field of inquiry. I'll be back to see Cecil in the morning.
Perhaps then I'll be able to determine the exact problem."

"Please do it, wizard. Save our Cecil," Said Ashel, looking up with moist eyes.
He turned away, unwilling to let his tears be seen, and Eldry whispered to
Kedrigern, "You must. Poor Ashel would never get over it if we lost the dear
creature. And we'd be invaded, besides."

"I'll do everything in my power. And if I can't help Cecil myself, I'll do my
best to find someone who can. Now let's all go back to the castle and have a
nice snack, and let Cecil get some rest."

There was no time, and little inclination, for shop talk before dinner.
Throughout the evening, over one elaborate and superbly prepared dish after
another, amid the singing of minstrels and the whirling of dancers and the
tumbling of dogs and acrobats, the drinking of toasts and the bursts of merry
laughter, Kedrigern pondered the case. He was able to do so without
interruption; Princess, looking her loveliest, was the center of all eyes. No
one paid attention to a moody wizard, nor to the haggard, dusty messengers who