`` where as , '' he read slowly , tracing the lettering with a hesitant finger , `` it hathe pleas-sed the der-rer-aa-ger-the dragon , ker-ii-king of kings and aa-ber-ess-uh-ler- '' sweat beaded on the broad pink cliff of his forehead- '' absolute , that is , rer-uh-ler-eh-rer , ruler of- '' he lapsed into the tortured silence of academia , his fingertip jerking slowly down the parchment .