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

"Prove it: make yourself disappear."

"Tyasan thinks there's a possibility you've been spelled."

Cecil gave a quick snarling laugh. "Fat lot Tyasan knows. I can take any spell
they throw at me. I'm a griffin."

"All the same, I have to check." The griffin hissed and snapped his beak, but
made no further hostile move. Kedrigern drew out his medallion and inspected
Cecil through the Aperture of True Vision. He found no trace of enchantment.

"All right, you checked. Now run off and collect your fee."

"I want to do a few more tests," Kedrigern said. He reached out to give Cecil a
reassuring pat.

"Lay a hand on me and your name is Lefty."

"Cecil, you have to cooperate. Tyasan is worried. The queen is distraught. The
kingdom is in danger. Eldry and Ashel --"

Cecil raised a thick foreleg and flexed four wicked-looking talons. "Leave those
kids out of it, you hear? Anybody messes with those kids, he answers to me."

"I'm here for their sake, Cecil. They're worried about you."

"Shut up."

"If anything happens to you, they'll be heartbroken."

"Shut up, I said! All I need is a good rest. Go away and maybe I can get it."

Kedrigern could see that he was going to get no more out of Cecil. He had
already learned that no magic was involved, and that was useful to know. And
Cecil was apparently as fond of the children as they were of him. That might
provide an approach. But griffins are short tempered; to press Cecil further
would probably do more harm than good. "All right, Cecil, I'll leave you now,"
the wizard said. "But I'll be back."

"Don't hurry."

"I'll be back tomorrow."

"Maybe I'll be lucky and die in my sleep." Cecil slumped down in the straw,
turned his back on the wizard, and almost at once began to snore.

Once outside, Kedrigern was confronted with two expectant, hopeful faces.

"Is he well? Did you make him better?" Ashel demanded.