Мор - ученик смерти

           Thedomeisn’tcentredonthepalace,it’scentredonher.’

           ’Onwho?’saidKeli.Hervoicecouldhavekeptmilkfreshforamonth.

           ’OnherHighness,’saidCutwellautomatically,squintingalongtheshaft.

           ’Don’tyouforgetit.’

           ’Iwon’tforgetit,butthat’snotthepoint,’saidhewizard.Hepulledtheboltoutoftheplasterandtestedthepointwithhisfinger.

           ’Butifyoustayhereyou’lldie!’saidMort.

           ThenIshallhavetoshowtheDischowaqueencandie,’saidKeli,lookingasproudaswaspossibleinapinkknittedbedjacket.

           Mortsatdownontheendofthebedwithhisheadinhishands.

           ’Iknowhowaqueencandie,’hemuttered.Theydiejustlikeotherpeople.Andsomeofuswouldrathernotseeithappen.’

           ’Excuseme,Ijustwanttolookatthiscrossbow,’saidCutwellconversationally,reachingacrossthem.’Don’tmindme.’

           ’Ishallgoproudlytomeetmydestiny,’saidKeli,buttherewasthebarestflickerofuncertaintyinhervoice.

           ’Noyouwon’t.Imean,IknowwhatI’mtalkingabout.Takeitfromme.There’snothingproudaboutit.Youjustdie.’

           ’Yes,butit’showyoudoit.Ishalldienobly,likeQueenEzeriel.’

           Mort’sforeheadwrinkled.Historywasaclosedbooktohim.

           ’Who’sshe?’

           ’ShelivedinKlatchandshehadalotofloversandshesatonasnake,’saidCutwell,whowaswindingupthecrossbow.

           ’Shemeantto!Shewascrossedinlove!’

           ’AllIcanrememberwasthatsheusedtotakebathsinasses’milk.