"DeChancie,.John.-.Castle.07.-.Castle.Spellbound" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dechancie John)

"Wait a minute." Fetchen got up, crossed the crypt, and began rummaging in a pile of debris. "Saw something when I moved this stuff . . . now, where did I-? Oh, here it is."
He returned bearing a tattered leatherbound book, which he set on the table in front of Thorsby. "Have a look at that."
"An old grimoire," Thorsby said after glancing at it. So?"
"Read the title."
Thorsby wiped the dust away. "The Delights of the Flesh." He sat up. "Ye gods."
"There's one the Royal Librarian keeps under lock and key."
"I should say so." Thorsby opened the book and began leafing through it.
Fetchen moved his chair. "A houri."
"Ah. Two of them."
"Imagine being crushed between two sets of-"
"Oh, look at her."
"Gods, look at that one."
"They have names. Fatima . . . Jalila . . . Layla . . . Safa-"
"Who cares a fig for their names?"
"And here are the spells to conjure 'em with."
"Dare we? I remember warnings about this book."
"Can you resist that?"
Fetchen slavered at the full-page engraving. "Not for long."
Thorsby flipped more pages. "There's everything here. Food spells, love charms, all manner of opiates and philtres-"
"Drink. Let's have a drink."
"All right, then. Where's the incantation?"
"No, you have to do the thing in the front of the book first. The general invocation and pact."
"Exactly who and what are we invoking? What kind of magic is this?"
"It's ancient, and very tricky."
"Not the sort of stuff you learn in school, is it?"
"It's on the Index of Proscribed Books. I remember it."
"Who cares. We can handle it."
Fetchen made a dubious face.
Thorsby winked. "Come on, then. Just a few of the more innocuous spells. Can't hurt, can it?"
"I dunno."
"Are you game or are you not, Fetchen?"
Fetchen thought about it, then replied, "I'm game."

It took a good hour to clear away debris, sweep the floor clean, and inscribe magical symbols on it. The pattern was a set of interlocking geometric figures. None were traditional pentacles.
"Odd," Thorsby opined.
"That's it, then. All done."
"What now? Incantations?"
"None. `Upon the completion of these devices, the pact is sealed thereon."' Fetchen threw the book down. "Now we get everything we wish for."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that."
"All right, then. Give us a bottle of wine."
A bottle appeared in the air not far from Thorsby's head, hung for a split second, then dropped.
Delighted, Thorsby caught it. "That's the ticket! Oh, look, it's bubbly."
"Let's have two bottles," Fetchen said, and another instantly appeared.
Thorsby worked the cork up on his and popped it. He upended the bottle and drank deeply. Swallowing, he regarded his partner with a look of disbelief. "That's . . . it's delicious! I've never-"
Fetchen drank from his. "It can't be just wine."
"Ambrosia!"
"The nectar of the gods!"
"Let's have more!" Thorsby commanded. "And food. Lots of food. A kingly feast!"
"And the women to serve us."