Мор - ученик смерти

           ’HerSupremeMajesty,QueenKelirehennaI,LordofStoLat,ProtectoroftheEightProtectoratesandEmpressoftheLongThinDebatedPieceHubwardsofStoKerrig.’

           Ysabellbobbed.Mortbowed.Kelibeamedatbothofthem.Theycouldn’thelpnoticingthatshehadcomeundersomeinfluencethatinclinedhertowardsclothesthatatleastroughlyfollowedhershape,andawayfromhairstylesthatlookedliketheoffspringofapineappleandacandyfloss.

           ShepeckedYsabellonthecheekandthensteppedbackandlookedMortupanddown.

           ’How’sStoHelit?’shesaid.

           ’Fine,fine,’saidMort.’We’llhavetodosomethingaboutthecellars,though.Yourlateunclehadsomeunusual–hobbies,and....’

           ’Shemeansyou,’whisperedYsabell.That’syourofficialname.’

           ’IpreferredMort,’saidMort.

           ’Suchaninterestingcoatofarms,too,’saidthequeen.’Crossedscythesonanhourglassrampantagainstasablefield.ItgavetheRoyalCollegequiteaheadache.’

           ’It’snotthatImindbeingaduke,’saidMort.’Itsbeingmarriedtoaduchessthatcomesasashock.’

           ’You’llgetusedtoit.’

           ’Ihopenot.’

           ’Good.Andnow,Ysabell,’saidKeli,settingherjaw,’ifyouaretomoveinroyalcirclestherearesomepeopleyousimplymustmeet.

           YsabellgaveMortadespairinglookasshewassweptawayintothecrowd,andwassoonlosttoview.

           Mortranafingeraroundtheinsideofhiscollar,lookedbothways,andthendartedintoafern-shadedcornerneartheendofthebuffetwherehecouldhaveaquietmomenttohimself.