"Christopher Stasheff - Warlock 09 - The Warlocks Companion" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stasheff Christopher)

"Thou wouldst not wish him to be," Gwen assured the boy.
But Rod shrugged. "I'm willing." He pointed a finger at Geoffrey. "Just for that, you
can walk all the way to the castle."
Geoffrey glared at him, and Rod felt a surge upward. In the split second before it
could happen, though, he thought downward. Geoffrey frowned as though something
were wrong; his face tightened with effort. Rod felt the boy's power of levitation pushing
against his own telekinetic force, and pressed harder. Then Gwen dismounted, and he
felt her effort join his. He eased up.
But Geoffrey didn't. His face reddened; his shoulders hunched with the effort.
Gwen leaned back against Rod, showing not the slightest sign of strain.
Geoffrey abandoned the effort, foreboding shadowing his gaze. "Thou dost
conspire against me!"
"No, we just agree on the rules and the punishments."
" 'Tis even as I've said." Geoffrey gave them his best glower, or tried to. He couldn't
simply capitulate, of course. Rod understood that, and allowed him his face-saver.
"It is indeedтАФbut it does let you know what happens if you disobey."
"Didst thou never disobey when thou wast small?" Geoffrey squalled.
Rod reddened. "That's beside the pointтАФand that's enough nattering about it, too.
Come on, let's go."
He turned away, shouldering through the brush. Gwen watched him go in mild
surprise, then turned back to her children with a slight smile and a nod of the head.
"Come, then. Thou hast heard."
They followed her away through the trees, Cordelia and Gregory now perched on
Fess's back.
"There could have been worse punishments," Cordelia ventured.
"Oh, he still!" Geoffrey snapped. " 'Tis not the effort doth chafe me."
"Nay, 'tis the shame," Magnus agreed. "Yet there's naught to rue in giving respect to
thine elders."
"Including thee, belike?" Geoffrey said, with scorn. "Nay, I wager that Papa was
mindful of enduring just such shame as this! Didst thou not see him redden when I did
ask?"
"I did," said Magnus, with a wicked grin. "Nay, I do wonder what naughtiness he did
recollect?"
They were all silent for a minute, imagining calamities.
"Fess would know," Gregory said suddenly.
"Aye, thou wouldst!" Geoffrey turned to Fess with a glint in his eye. "Nay, tell! What
did chance when Papa did disobey Grandpapa?"
"That is his tale to tell, not mine," the robot said slowly.
"Oh, come, Fess!" Cordelia pleaded prettily. "Canst thou not give but a hint?"
"Your father's personal matters are confidential, children." Robots are immune to
charm.
"But a clue," Magnus said, "is not telling."
"My programming does not allow disclosure of classified materials," Fess said
sternly.
They were silent again, brains whirling in an attempt to bypass the program.
"Yet thou art free to tell us aught of thine own past," Gregory said.
Fess was silent a moment, then said, "I am, and will speak to you gladly of the
history of your House and of your ancestorsтАж"
"Only of our father," Gregory said quickly. He'd heard Fess's lectures before.
"Canst thou not tell what thou didst when he did disobey?"