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Sween Myth-tery of Life :: Asprin Robert
Страница: 40 из 110Strangely, I found thathis obvious discomfort was making me uneasy. "Have a seat."
"Thank you, I'd rather stand."
So much for putting him at ease.
"As you wish," I nodded. "What is it you wanted to see me about?"
I realized with some chagrin that I was falling into a formal speech pattern, but found that I couldn't help it. Badaxe seemed bound and determined to be somber, and I felt obligated to respond in kind.
"Well ... I'd like to speak to you about your apprentice."
"Aahz?" I said. As far as the kingdom was concerned, Aahz was my loyal student.
"What's he done now?"
"No ... not Aahz." the General clarified hastily. "I was referring to Massha."
"Massha?" I blinked. This was truly a surprise. As far as I knew, Massha and the General had always gotten along fine. "Very well. What's the problem?
"Oh, don't misunderstand me, Lord Magician.
There's no problem. Quite the contrary. I wanted to speak to you taking her hand in marriage."
On a day of surprises, this announcement caught me the most off guard.
"Why?" I sputtered, unable to think of anything else to say.
The General's brow darkened noticeably.
"If you're referring to her less than slender appearance, or perhaps the difference in our age ..."he began in a deep growl.
"No, you misunderstand me," I said hastily, cutting him off ... though once he mentioned them, both points were worth reflecting on. "I meant, why should you want to speak to me about such a matter?"
"Oh. That."
For the moment, at least, Badaxe seemed mollified. I mentally made a note to table any discussion of the two points he had raised until another time.
"It's really rather simple, Lord Magician," the General was continuing. "Though I suppose it's rather old fashioned of me, I felt I should follow proprieties and establish my good intentions by stating them in advance. Normally I'd speak to her father, but, in this case, you seem to be the closest thing to a father she has."
Now I was truly flabbergasted. Mostly because, try as I might, I couldn't find a hole in his logic. He was right. Even though she was older than me, Massha had never spoken of her family at all ... much less a father. What was more, this was one I couldn't even fob off on Aahz. Since she was my apprentice, I was responsible for her care and well-being as well as her training. If there was anyone the General should speak to on matters regarding Massha's future, it was me!
"I see," I said, stalling for time to think.
"Thank you, I'd rather stand."
So much for putting him at ease.
"As you wish," I nodded. "What is it you wanted to see me about?"
I realized with some chagrin that I was falling into a formal speech pattern, but found that I couldn't help it. Badaxe seemed bound and determined to be somber, and I felt obligated to respond in kind.
"Well ... I'd like to speak to you about your apprentice."
"Aahz?" I said. As far as the kingdom was concerned, Aahz was my loyal student.
"What's he done now?"
"No ... not Aahz." the General clarified hastily. "I was referring to Massha."
"Massha?" I blinked. This was truly a surprise. As far as I knew, Massha and the General had always gotten along fine. "Very well. What's the problem?
"Oh, don't misunderstand me, Lord Magician.
There's no problem. Quite the contrary. I wanted to speak to you taking her hand in marriage."
On a day of surprises, this announcement caught me the most off guard.
"Why?" I sputtered, unable to think of anything else to say.
The General's brow darkened noticeably.
"If you're referring to her less than slender appearance, or perhaps the difference in our age ..."he began in a deep growl.
"No, you misunderstand me," I said hastily, cutting him off ... though once he mentioned them, both points were worth reflecting on. "I meant, why should you want to speak to me about such a matter?"
"Oh. That."
For the moment, at least, Badaxe seemed mollified. I mentally made a note to table any discussion of the two points he had raised until another time.
"It's really rather simple, Lord Magician," the General was continuing. "Though I suppose it's rather old fashioned of me, I felt I should follow proprieties and establish my good intentions by stating them in advance. Normally I'd speak to her father, but, in this case, you seem to be the closest thing to a father she has."
Now I was truly flabbergasted. Mostly because, try as I might, I couldn't find a hole in his logic. He was right. Even though she was older than me, Massha had never spoken of her family at all ... much less a father. What was more, this was one I couldn't even fob off on Aahz. Since she was my apprentice, I was responsible for her care and well-being as well as her training. If there was anyone the General should speak to on matters regarding Massha's future, it was me!
"I see," I said, stalling for time to think.