Мор - ученик смерти

           ThelightinDeath’seyesflareduntilitfilledMort’svisionandthesoundofhislaughterrattledtheuniverse.

           AndthenDeathturnedthehourglassover.

           OnceagainthegreathallofStoLatwasbrilliantwithcandlelightandloudwithmusic.

           AstheguestsflockeddownthestepsanddescendedonthecoldbuffettheMasterofCeremonieswasinnon-stopvoice,introducingthosewho,byreasonofimportanceorsimpleabsent-mindedness,hadturneduplate.Asforexample:

           TheRoyalRecogniser,MasteroftheQueen’sBedchamber,HisIpississumussnessIgneousCutwell,WizardIstGrade(UU).’

           Cutwelladvancedontheroyalcouple,grinning,alargecigarinonehand.

           ’MayIkissthebride?’hesaid.

           ’Ifit’sallowedforwizards,’saidYsabell,offeringacheek.

           ’Wethoughtthefireworksweremarvellous,’saidMort.’AndIexpectthey’llsoonbeabletorebuildtheouterwall.Nodoubtyou’llbeabletofindyourwaytothefood.’

           ’He’slookingalotbetterthesedays,’saidYsabellbehindherfixedgrin,asCutwelldisappearedintothethrong.

           ’Certainlythere’salottobesaidforbeingtheonlypersonwhodoesn’tbothertoobeythequeen,’saidMort,exchangingnodswithapassingnobleman.

           ’Theysayhe’stherealpowerbehindthethrone,’saidYsabell.’Aneminencesomething.’

           ’Eminencegrease,’saidMortabsently.’Noticehowhedoesn’tdoanymagicthesedays?’

           ’Shutuphereshecomes.’