"K. D. Wentworth - Hallah Iron-Thighs and the Five Unseemly Sorrows" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wentworth K D)

way."
He flushed further, tending now toward a deep, true Puce, an unusual achievement for one of his pallid
coloring. Perspiration beaded up on his chubby neck. "We are experiencing a bit of a problem with the
royal cash flow."



I crossed my arms. "That's what they all say."



"This time, however, it is true," he said. "Three times, our most gracious Princess Merrydot has been
betrothed, and three times her intended has been kidnapped by a vicious dragon who lives up beyond the
highest pass. King Merwick sent gold to ransom them all, but though the gold disappeared, none of the
princes has ever been released. The royal treasury, is, shall we say, destitute."



"Don't give us that rot," Gerta said. "There are no dragons." She raised her chin proudly. "My valiant
foremothers across the channel killed them all!"



"On the contrary," he said, "the vile beast is often seen frolicking up in the mountains after darkтАФflames
shooting everywhere. Word of it is keeping trade out, exports in. No one pays us visits of state anymore.
The situation is becoming quite desperate." He gave us an appraising look. "Despite your shocking
propensity for vulgarity, you two do look as though you might be competent with those swords. I don't
supposeтАФ"



"Forget it," I said, waving a fist in negation. "Even if there were any left, we don't do dragons. Send your
own men up there."



"That is out of the question," he said haughtily. "Every member of our guard is of noble birth. If they went
after the princes, they could very well be killed!"



"I'll just bet." I slid down Corpsemaker's bay side. "Now, about our feeтАФ"



"You will have to wait," he said. "What little is left in the treasury is reserved for essentials such as
wrapping paper and ribbon, not to mention satin and taffeta, silver wedding goblets, and those cunning
little bundles of rice to throw at the reception. In fact, the royal wedding shower takes place in just a few
hours. You cannot imagine how expensive wedding frippery is these days, and of course each time the
wedding falls through, we have to resupply. Princess Merrydot, being of a sensitive nature, cannot endure