"Lawrence Watt-Evans - Ethshar 9 - The Spriggan Mirror" - читать интересную книгу автора (Watt-Evans Lawrence)

The Spriggan Mirror
A Legend of Ethshar
Chapter One

Gresh was yawning, still not entirely awake, when the bell jingled and the just-unlocked door of his shop
opened behind him, letting in a swirl of cold air. He blinked once more, flexed his shoulders, and started
to turn.
тАЬDonтАЩt you ever sleep?тАЭ his eldest sisterтАЩs voice demanded.
Gresh finished his yawn, finished his stretching, finished his turn, and then replied, тАЬGood
morning, Dina. I slept well, thank youтАФand you?тАЭ
тАЬYou certainly didnтАЩt sleep very much,тАЭ Dina retorted. She was standing in the doorway, hands
on her hips, glaring at him. She wore her wizardтАЩs robe, which generally meant she was on business. тАЬI
was trying to reach you until at least an hour after midnight. Twilfa didnтАЩt know where you were, but
wherever you were, you were still awake...тАЭ
тАЬAnd having a lovely time, I might add,тАЭ he interrupted. He smiled broadly at her, then glanced at
the shop curtains he had been about to open and decided not to move them just yet. DinaтАЩs presence in
her robe often implied a commission, and that might well mean traveling. If it required an immediate
departure he would just need to close up shop again. He leaned back against his counter.
тАЬIтАЩm sure you were,тАЭ Dina said. тАЬAre you planning to see her again, whoever she was, or just
add her to the long list of pleasant memories?тАЭ
тАЬWell, I donтАЩt think youтАЩll be acquiring a new sister-in-law in the immediate futureтАФbut you
didnтАЩt come here to inquire about my love life, Dina. I take it you were trying to use the Spell of Invaded
Dreams to contact me last night?тАЭ
тАЬYes, of course.тАЭ
тАЬAnd it always leaves you in a foul temper when a spell doesnтАЩt work, even if itтАЩs not your fault. I
apologize for the inconvenience. What was it you wanted to tell me?тАЭ
тАЬI need the blood of an unborn child,тАЭ Dina replied. тАЬI thought I needed it urgently, since the spell
was already started when I discovered IтАЩd run out, but it seems to have dissipated safely after all, since I
couldnтАЩt find you to get more.тАЭ
тАЬYou didnтАЩt check beforehand?тАЭ Gresh asked, shocked. тАЬYou didnтАЩt make sure you had all the
ingredients ready? Gods, Dina...!тАЭ
тАЬI checked,тАЭ she protested. тАЬOf course I checked! I had one vial left.тАЭ She held up two fingers
perhaps an inch and a half apart, indicating the size of the vial in question. тАЬThen a spriggan spilled it on
the cat.тАЭ
тАЬOh.тАЭ Gresh grimaced as he pushed himself upright and began fishing in his belt-purse for
something. тАЬMy sympathies. Spriggans do get into everything, donтАЩt they?тАЭ
тАЬYes, they do. The little monsters are attracted by magic, you knowтАФespecially wizardry. Locks
and spells canтАЩt keep them out. I hate the stupid things!тАЭ
тАЬI, for one, donтАЩt blame you a bit,тАЭ Gresh said, pulling out the key he had sought. тАЬTheyтАЩre a
nuisance, no doubt about it.тАЭ He turned to look at the magically-sealed iron door of the vault room that
young Twilfa could not open unassisted. тАЬHow much did you need? And how were you planning to
pay?тАЭ Then he paused and looked at Dina. тАЬBlood of an unborn child? Was that for the Greater Spell of
Transmutation?тАЭ
тАЬYes. Not that itтАЩs any of your business.тАЭ She stepped into the shop, pushing the door partly
closed behind her, then crossed her arms over her chest.
тАЬYouтАЩre sure it dissipated safely? IsnтАЩt that a high-order spell?тАЭ
тАЬOf course it is,тАЭ she said, marching forward. тАЬYou let me worry about it, Gresh. IтАЩm just here
for the blood.тАЭ
тАЬYes, well, I have a reputation to maintain...тАЭ
тАЬAs a supplier of goods and ingredients, not as a confounded babysitter,тАЭ she said. тАЬIтАЩm ten