"Jack Vance - Demon Prince 05 - The Book Of Dreams" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vance Jack)

precedent. He is antic and droll, and able in the acting of
roles. All the paladins, save only one, laugh to see his capers;

when the time is appropriate allтАФsave only oneтАФdance to
his musics, for Spangleway can elicit sweet sounds from a
dangling pig, should he so choose to turn his skills. Never
think to match Spangleway jape for jape, since his knife is
even keener than his wit. In battle, the enemy cries out:

"Where is the laggard Spangleway?" or: "Aha! The coward
Spangleway takes to his heels'" only to have him on their
necks from a new direction, or in some shocking guise.

Beside Jeha Rais stands gentle Rhune Fader the Blue. In
battle, though he is dauntless and first to succor a hard-
pressed paladin, he is also first to urge mercy and forbear-
ance. He is slim, tall, clear of feature, and handsome as the
summer sunrise; he is skilled in the arts and graces and
sensitive to beauty in all things, especially the beauty of shy
maidens upon whom he casts a glamour. Alas, in the battle
councils the voice of Rhune Fader carries little weight.

Beside blue Rhune, and a little apart, stands eerie white Eia
Panice, whose hair, eyes, long teeth, and skin are white. He
wears a full casque of white metal and little of his face can
be seen: a high-bridged hooked nose, a harsh chin, gleam-
ing eyes. In the councils he speaks, for the most part, either
"yea" or "nay," but more often than not his word decides
the issue, for he seems to know the ways of Destiny. Alone
among the paladins he is unmoved by the droll contrivances
of Spangleway. Indeed, on those occasions when his grim
smile is seen, then is the time for all who can to depart and

THE BOOK OF DREAMS

never look back lest they discover the limpid gaze of Eia
Panice fixed into their own.

So then, stranger, go your way. When at last you make your
homecoming, wherever it may be among the sparkling
worlds, bring report of those who stand brooding yonder.

From The Demon PrincesтАФCaril Carphen:

... we turn the focus of our attention upon Howard
Alan Treesong, his wry exploits and the incredible virtu-
osity of his organizational genius. At the outset let me, in
all candor, confess my awe and perplexity: I do not know
where to start. He is possibly the greatest rogue of all (if,
in that perfervid ambience surrounding the Demon Princes,