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The Magehound :: Каннингем Элейн
Страница: 90 из 216A sprinkling of fine sand would be enough to engender a stronghailstorm. With or without magical amplification, such a storm could provide a diversion, at the very least, and quite possibly a devastating attack."
"Ice below draws ice from above. Under certain circumstances, that might prove useful. Ah, we hear at last from the intrepid Avariel," Procopio said snidely as he turned to the softly humming globe.
Basel Indoulur's face appeared, ashen but smiling. "Well done, my friend! Half my crew are wishing for a clean pair of breeches and the feel of solid land beneath their feet You've earned your two thousand skie. Or should I say, your new jordain has earned them for you," he added slyly.
A velvet bag appeared from the empty air and fell at Matteo's feet with a weighty chink.
"What say, lad?" continued Basel. "I could use an adviser with your nerve. Mine cluck and flap about like a passel of brooding hens."
Matteo noted the wary expression on Procopio's face. The wizard had discharged him, he was free to take any employment offered him. But Matteo sensed that yielding anything, much less the services of a valuable counselor, would mean a loss of face to the wizard.
"I am honored by your words, Lord Basel, but I have just recently entered the employ of your friend Procopio. I have no wish to leave."
It might not be the whole truth, but judging from the relief in the diviner's eyes, it was the right answer.
"Nor would I willingly let him go, Basel, and shame to you for trying to steal him out from under me!"
The conjurer shrugged. "Ah, well. A man must have his sport. We will meet soon, I trust."
Basel's image faded from the globe. "Too soon, most likely," the diviner grumbled.
When he turned back to Matteo, he was smiling. "That was well done all around. You displayed knowledge, judgment, confidence, and, not least important, loyalty. I am well pleased," he said in a patronizing tone.
Matteo inclined his head in a bow, less out of courtesy than to hide the flash of anger that he couldn't fully suppress. He had hoped to prove himself, but through true service and not in foolish games.
"Thank you, Lord Procopio, but I had thought that you found me unsuitably arrogant."
The wizard tossed back his head and laughed. "That's no failing as long as it is justified. Arrogance is only intolerable in the inept."
"I shall keep that in mind," Matteo said dryly.
They spoke of other things, and the skyship came to port without further incident Matteo suspected, however, that his time of testing had just begun.
"Ice below draws ice from above. Under certain circumstances, that might prove useful. Ah, we hear at last from the intrepid Avariel," Procopio said snidely as he turned to the softly humming globe.
Basel Indoulur's face appeared, ashen but smiling. "Well done, my friend! Half my crew are wishing for a clean pair of breeches and the feel of solid land beneath their feet You've earned your two thousand skie. Or should I say, your new jordain has earned them for you," he added slyly.
A velvet bag appeared from the empty air and fell at Matteo's feet with a weighty chink.
"What say, lad?" continued Basel. "I could use an adviser with your nerve. Mine cluck and flap about like a passel of brooding hens."
Matteo noted the wary expression on Procopio's face. The wizard had discharged him, he was free to take any employment offered him. But Matteo sensed that yielding anything, much less the services of a valuable counselor, would mean a loss of face to the wizard.
"I am honored by your words, Lord Basel, but I have just recently entered the employ of your friend Procopio. I have no wish to leave."
It might not be the whole truth, but judging from the relief in the diviner's eyes, it was the right answer.
"Nor would I willingly let him go, Basel, and shame to you for trying to steal him out from under me!"
The conjurer shrugged. "Ah, well. A man must have his sport. We will meet soon, I trust."
Basel's image faded from the globe. "Too soon, most likely," the diviner grumbled.
When he turned back to Matteo, he was smiling. "That was well done all around. You displayed knowledge, judgment, confidence, and, not least important, loyalty. I am well pleased," he said in a patronizing tone.
Matteo inclined his head in a bow, less out of courtesy than to hide the flash of anger that he couldn't fully suppress. He had hoped to prove himself, but through true service and not in foolish games.
"Thank you, Lord Procopio, but I had thought that you found me unsuitably arrogant."
The wizard tossed back his head and laughed. "That's no failing as long as it is justified. Arrogance is only intolerable in the inept."
"I shall keep that in mind," Matteo said dryly.
They spoke of other things, and the skyship came to port without further incident Matteo suspected, however, that his time of testing had just begun.