"Dave Duncan - A Man Of His Word 2 - Faery Lands Forlorn" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

He glanced in surprise at her-Kade's queries were often much sharper
than her appearance led one to expect. "In the beginning it was not. The
first half dozen or so victims are still statues. Now the jade usually
restores them to life after a week or two."

"That is the most disgustingly stupid thing I have ever heard of!" Inos
said.

"I told you-she is a whore, an evil woman, and spiteful. "

"She must also be half-witted, if she did not see what would happen with
a spell like that loose! Six people died before she changed to a sorcery
she could undo?"

He shrugged. "But why were you not immobilized when you gave me my legal
title?"

Obviously he had expected it to happen. That realization left Inos at a
loss for words.

"The effects of the curse are limited to the palace itself," the big man
mused. "Can it be that this odious sorcerous chamber is excluded?"

Again Inos looked around. She could see nothing obviously sorcerous,
only an excessive amount of bright-colored furniture, much of it ugly
and garish, intermixed with ill-suited statuary. Nor could she see any
doorway. The floor, where it was visible, was a spectacular mosaic of
vines and flowers, all intricately intertwined and as brightly hued as a
swarm of butterflies, but the effect was ruined by a litter of rugs, as
gawdy and mismatched as the furniture. Everything looked expensive, but
nothing fit or blended. Whoever had assembled the collection had been
sadly lacking in even the rudiments of taste. One glance at this
warehouse would give Duke Angilki a seizure.

But being turned to stone ... Was this oddly youthful sultan trying to
be humorous? As Inos was planning a suitable query, the drape jingled
again. A huge gray dog bounded through, skidded on the polished tiles
past both Inos and her aunt, and came to a stop facing Azak. The dislike
was immediate, and mutual.

The dog bared teeth, flattened ears, and raised hackles. Azak put hand
to sword hilt.

Inos was about to speak, then her courage failed her. Rap had called the
monster "Fleabag" affectionately, as if it were a cuddly lapdog instead
of an overgrown timber wolf. It had obeyed him eagerly, but dogs were
always happy to go along with Rap's suggestions, and Rap was not present
now. It had not noticed Kade or Inos, apparently, and even to speak its
name might attract its hostility.