Мор - ученик смерти

           TheroyalcoachhadbeenregildedandCutwellwasoptimisticthatpeoplecouldbepersuadedtonoticeitasitwentby.

           TheHighPriestattheTempleofBlindIowasgoingtobeaproblem.Cutwellhadmarkedhimdownasadearoldsoulwhoseexpertisewiththeknifewassounreliablethathalfofthesacrificesgottiredofwaitingandwanderedaway.Thelasttimehe’dtriedtosacrificeagoatithadtimetogivebirthtotwinsbeforehecouldfocus,andthenthecourageofmotherhoodhadresultedinitchasingtheentirepriesthoodoutofthetemple.

           Thechancesofhimsucceedinginputtingthecrownontherightpersoneveninnormalcircumstanceswereonlyaverage,Cutwellhadcalculated;he’dhavetostandalongsidetheoldboyandtrytactfullytoguidehisshakinghands.

           Still,eventhatwasn’tthebigproblem.Thebigproblemwasmuchbiggerthanthat.ThebigproblemhadbeensprungonhimbytheChancellorafterbreakfast.

           ’Fireworks?’Cutwellhadsaid.

           ’That’sthesortofthingyouwizardfellowsaresupposedtobegoodat,isn’tit?’saidtheChancellor,ascrustyasaweek-oldloaf.’Flashesandbangsandwhatnot.IrememberawizardwhenIwasalad—’

           ’I’mafraidIdon’tknowanythingaboutfireworks,’saidCutwell,intonesdesignedtoconveythathecherishedthisignorance.

           ’Lotsofrockets,’theChancellorreminiscedhappily.’Ankhiancandles.Thunderflashes.Andthingiesthatyoucanholdinyourhand.It’snotapropercoronationwithoutfireworks.