Unconquered Sun

by Philipp Bogachev

  At this time other fairies of patrol of "STING" surrounded travelers with a dense ring and kept in readiness magic wands.

  - I have no admission, - the Fairy because she was not able to lie honestly answered. - But I informed other Keepers about we wash departure, - she as though it could justify her offense somehow right there added.

  - In that case, you are arrested on a charge of unauthorized absence from the place of service to the Order and Tselestiya's Prosperity, temporarily lose the status of the Keeper and the right of carrying a distinction of the 3rd rank up to the decision of Tribunal, - also passionlessly said Cream-white.

  - Please … - disobedient lips the Fairy with a great effort said, - take … - And the shivering hands removed from herself a sign of the 3rd rank - the three-headed emerald dragon hanging at her on a breast. Then gave to one of warriors of "STING" and the magic wand.

  - Well and it is remarkable, the sister. Means, forces should not be used, - said Kremovo white enough. - It for your benefit, expensive, for your benefit … - suddenly changed voice in which confidential notes, unusual for fairies of "STING", sounded, was whispered by her. - Believe my multithousand-year experience in the Oversea country - there you do not fit. You will just die and it will not rescue the husband. It not your business and … not your war. - And then, already aloud, chilly ordered:

  - Follow us, the sister, do not take in head to lag behind. And you, sisters, - addressing to two golden, on mantikor, - take Animals to yourself. We go to the Island immediately.

  The fairy in despair bent the head and from her eyes on cheeks spread large, about a pea, tears.

  "Cannot be, - she thought - that my travel for Prinze so disgracefully ended! There cannot be it! But what I can do?"

  And at this time "mantikorovy" fairies approached Animals to take away them on winged "horses".

  And here Animals broke through …

  Suddenly the Kitten and the Puppy as if on command rushed to Kremovo Béla and, having clasped with pads of her leg, in eager rivalry began to wail:

  - We beg you, oh, wise madam, release us! I Umolyae-e-e-em! We not just like that left the place of our service! We go to rescue dear Prinze who was kidnapped by the Invincible Sun and now only we can rescue it! We beg, release n-a-a-a-as!

  At the sight of such show even the passionless suite Cream-white could not constrain smiles. Only Cream-white did not smile, on the contrary, expression of her face became even more severe.

  - You think, I do not know why and where you went? You are mistaken! This circumstance in a bigger degree induces you to arrest - not only for the fact of the worst malfeasance, but also for the sake of your rescue! About your emergence in the Oversea country out of the question. You have no chances. You will not rescue the prince. You will not even overcome the Desert of Desires.

  - Let's overcome, madam, preodole-e-e-eem! - unanimously Animals cried. - Without us Prinze will die!

  - It would be desirable to encourage you, but most likely, - sighed Cream-white, - he already so died. The invincible Sun of all men turns into golems at once as kidnaps them. Nobody came back live of its damned Gold Hall. And your campaign is initially doomed to failure. It is a pity to me, believe … - she added, having lowered a voice.

  The fairy sobbed violently. Even the Kitten lowered the fluffy gray head and was ready to reconcile, but not a Puppy! He did not intend to give up.

  Using that nobody paid attention to it, he very quietly got into the secret pocket made directly in its plush skin and groped in it a wooden flute of Cora.

  "Carefully, its actions are unpredictable! All its properties are not known even by me. Take, perhaps, it to you will be useful..." - her mysterious words at it in the head were heard. And then it together with the Kitten obediently went to mantikor whose hostesses already got into saddles.

  Cream-white astride the Pegasus soared up into air and was already going to give command to flying away …

  As suddenly the Puppy sharply snatched out a wooden flute and very much in it blew (he, of course, was able to play on a flute no more, than an elephant on a piano). The flute published such shrill squeal that the Fairy with the Kitten backwards plummeted to earth, having clamped ears from intolerable pain, and magic winged animals were just enraged!

  During a moment of their eye as wind blew off and so that their equestrians nearly posletat from saddles! On a clearing there were only Animals, the Fairy and couple of white feathers which dropped out in turmoil of wings of unlucky wonderful horses.

  And then the Puppy laughed. He rode on a grass, squeezing plush pads the a brown shaggy tummy, and could not stop in any way. The fairy and the Kitten started embracing and kissing the Puppy, not in forces to express the pleasure from such miraculous escape.

  The first the Fairy recovered.

  - Zveryatki my dear, and well quickly stop fun, get up! Fairies will master the winged horses soon and again will be here. And well, who will quicker run for me skipping? Who the first competing in speed will reach the Sea? We argue, the Puppy?

  - For anything, m-ya-u-u! - angrily the Kitten mewed and jerked as the decent sprinter forward. And after it, loudly barking, the Puppy ran. The fairy just flew up in air and that there are forces flew to the Sea.

  2.

  In a couple of minutes they already were on the Coast where they were waited by a grandiose meeting - the Sea Queen Laura desired to welcome. And here, in its crown possession, the Fairy was in safety - as the saying said, "from the Sea of delivery is not present". It was the territory of sea magicians and here the power of Triune Knowledge did not extend.

  Through the Sea travelers got over safely. Two big sea turtles on backs armors to which for convenience saddles were attached transported the Kitten and the Puppy. And the Fairy did a way well just kingly - on the personal sea chariot of the Sea Queen Laura. The chariot represented the long capacious castle turned entirely from mahogany, inlaid with red, gentle-pink, green-blue and blue corals. The fodder part of the chariot was filled with soft sofas and armchairs and closed from the scorching sun by a silk awning. It moved by means of a team from 6 huge tritons of the size of a large elephant everyone.

  Such welcome was accorded to the Fairy, of course, for the sake of Prinze. Laura was the closest girlfriend of Prinze and their mutual adventures not to count. So, for example, Laura taught him to float, dive and dance murmaid dances under the moon. And he taught Laura to talk to animals and birds and told her fairy tales.

  As is narrated in one their Chronicles ("Fey's island and Flowers of Oblivion"), all this came to an end in big scandal - the Fairy broke up with Prinze and together with the son ran away on Fey's Island. Laura then helped it to return the wife, having acquainted with the sister Cora who gave to Prinze the magic broom. After escape from Fey's Island Laura gave to fugitives shelter from a pursuit.

  Prinze's loss and desire to rescue him united two competitors as they were separated earlier by Prinze's presence. Besides about a crossing of the Fairy Cora asked, and Laura could not refuse to the sister anything.

  Travel promised to be not only safe and fast, but also pleasant. Thanks to Laura's magic there was excellent weather, the sun brightly shone, the pleasant warm breeze blew. The suite accompanying the Sea Queen - mermaids - sang the bewitching songs to the accompaniment of sea shells and harps on which they played cheerful bearded water.

  The kitten and Puppy could not rejoice - they were in the Sea the first time! They with ecstasy listened to fine melodies, so conformable to music of waves, and enjoyed game of the sun on bright green waves of the Sea. The kitten comfortably blinked on the sun and dozed as houses on an oven. The puppy wagged a tail enough and even tried to sing along, but its barking and howling did not get to a step in any way that gave an inconvenience singing which, however, complacently suffered. Turtles carried them without hurrying, quietly, and they almost did not suffer from rolling.

  But reigned in the royal chariot other mood is perfect.

  Laura stood di
rectly at the Chariot nose. Light green hair of the Sea Queen fluttered on wind, as well as her short dress. She stared for the line of the horizon as if trying to see far ahead contours of this awful Gold Tower, or perhaps and her Empress somewhere above - her favourite Prinze's thief. Her face was disturbing and even it seemed is a little frightened (what behind it was never noticed earlier). On her milky-white skin wrinkles on a nose bridge were sharply designated, and green as at a cat of an eye, almost did not blink - it as though slept on a clothes line. It convulsively touched the long slender fingers with membranes of a fold of the light green dress weaved out of vodoroslevy fibers.

  In the same state also the Fairy who reclined on a green reed chair slightly at some distance stayed.

  Silence dragged on, becoming burdensome for both magicians.

  - Dangerous you started business, - gloomy looking in one point - at the line of the horizon, Laura spoke, at last. - It would be safer to be put directly in a muzzle of the wakened volcano, than to go to this madwoman who besides has such force that with it cannot contend all of the magician Tselestiya.

  - You know, Laura that I have no other exit... - the Fairy responded, for some reason attentively considering tips of thin pink nails. - If not I, then who will rescue my Prinze?

  - Do not tell nonsense! - Laura parried. - An exit always is. You know that it is worth executing promised...

  - It is excluded, - the Fairy cut her short. - And then... The invincible Sun all the same should be stopped, sooner or later. It is possible that other such chance will not be any more …

  - Mad! Really, you think that you can make what all Community of fairies could not make? What self-conceit! - Laura twisted in a contemptuous grimace thin coral sponges.

  - I do not know, the right... - as if in the sleep, slowly, the Fairy spoke, - but I have some internal confidence in it … That all this not incidentally so turned out... I feel it, and the intuition of fairies never deceives!

  - Well, arrive as you consider it necessary, - with forced indifference Laura told, - but know what there to you to count there is nobody. And you will have no way back too. In the morning to me the whole squadron of "STING" arrived. They demanded your delivery. It was necessary to send them back home, the benefit, you at us was not valid, and that would be necessary to tinker fairly … - the beautiful face of Laura was distorted by a blood-thirsty grimace.

  - I know, Laura, we with Animals already met them, carried away a nasila of a leg … And what they tell?

  - And anything good. All your government on ears costs. A state of emergency is declared. Organize an extraordinary meeting to which representatives of all people of Tselestiya - unprecedented business are invited! - including I. Tonight I will go there. Will decide what to do. Perhaps, something will also be thought up while I can tell nothing.

  - I understand nothing, - the Fairy perplexedly spoke. - State of emergency because of loss of the husband of the ordinary fairy … Whether not too it is not enough for a meeting of such level?

  - Itself I do not know, - Laura told, - but the Cream-white fairy looked extremely anxious, as well as my sister, by the way. All speak about balance violation … Generally, I learn on Council. And you, by the way, - having turned, at last, towards the Fairy and, it is cunning having looked at her, Laura told, - they urged to detain if you are and not to release to a patrol arrival. As you see, I inflated all of them, - the Queen mischievously hemmed, - I do not know why. Perhaps on the evil to them, or perhaps your mad belief was somehow transferred also to me... It is a pity for me for Prinze, maybe, really, it is the last chance to rescue him … I and itself went with you, but unlike you I soberly estimate the forces. I do not want to turn into the wet smoking puddle yet …

  With these words of the ENT specialist became silent, efficiently touching fingers a coral necklace which held in hand as though it were prayful beads. The fairy understood that she feels now. In Laura mutually exclusive passions stormed - undertaken by it put feeling of friendly love to Prinze and fear of the Invincible Sun, feeling of affection for the Fairy (who strengthened during her stay in Coral Halls) and uncertainty in success. At last, sense of shame from the inaction.

  When fight of feelings became intolerable, Laura sharply got up, approached the big chest from mahogany standing at some distance and began to dig efficiently in it. At last, it found something there, joyfully burst out laughing and returned to the Fairy who continued to study tips of the nails.

  - On, take, maybe, it is useful, - with forced indifference Laura told and stretched her a small brilliant subject - the most ordinary metal pocket mirror in an unpretentious copper frame.

  - What is it? Pocket mirror? - the Fairy was surprised.

  - A pocket mirror, but not simple, - Laura important answered. - I got it at one odd fellow. This odd fellow was wound all over the world in search of "the real person" …

  The fairy interrogatively looked at Laura.

  - … The matter is that he came to a conclusion that most of inhabitants of Tselestiya - liars - say not that think, behave, not as want... He was disappointed in everything. He long time studied different magic sciences until by means of magic invented this mirror. It is arranged so that shows what person actually - is kind he or is angry, he lies or tells the truth. The mirror shows everything... - with these words of the ENT specialist thoughtfully turned a pocket mirror in hands and some time something is concentrated in considered. What she saw in a mirror so for the Fairy there and remained a riddle because as soon as she was going to ask about it, Laura left a trance and with forced indifference continued:

  - But I do not need it. We, mermaids, so see all through. So, the amusing bagatelle, held it for memory, and can be useful to you … Speak, - having passed to a trustworthy tone, almost in a whisper, Laura said, - I will tell you in confidence, the Invincible Sun never looked in the real mirror, even usual after saw that the sun is more more beautiful than her... - Laura suddenly mysteriously became silent stop short and again thought of something, looking through the Fairy somewhere.

  - And what became with this odd fellow? - with alarm in a voice the Fairy asked - she felt so sorry for people! (the mermaids who especially got into tenacious webby pads from whom very few people escaped back …).

  - Poor creature! - with a visible regret Laura answered. - This odd fellow of half-life spent for the invention of this thingummy and when began to look at people by means of a mirror - just went crazy. Even the best in appearance people looked in it awfully! He jumped out to us, the sea. It is direct jumped from the rock and such high that we could not rescue it... - Laura again became silent for some time and hasty turned away. Some time she thoughtfully watched cheerful game of uvulas of the sea waves which were tenderly pushed about wooden edges of the Chariot, and then hasty as justifying oneself, told:

  - The word of honor, we are not involved in his death. He died on my hands, and from his nonsense I learned all this... Unfortunate … - its voice slightly trembled, and she hurried to translate a topic of conversation. - But this thingummy escaped - take, maybe, it will bring you more benefit, than to her inventor.

  Gathered in the fine blue eyes of the Fairy large as a pea, tears.

  - What after all you, fairies, crybabies! - Laura did not sustain, - in general it is impossible to talk about anything to you! It is good that we from you separated in due time, and that would die with you from melancholy... And here by the way also protected already! - it is pleased the Sea Queen as it rescued her from the hard choice said: to calm the Fairy or to deride her that was equally not palatable. - All right, stop, I will tell still something important, - here its voice became confidential again, it passed to whisper. Such ominous whisper small children tell each other "terrifying stories" at night. - Do not take in head to look in its palace in mirrors. Mirrors is its force. They reflect and strengthen action of light which gets the terrible force and force hypnotic. These mirrors - are false, they do not show the truth, these are magical mirrors … - Sudd
enly its voice from confidential became derisive. The fairy was not surprised at all, knowing as moods of mermaids are changeable. They are children of the seas. As the sea - today are irascible, and tomorrow are tender, Mirna today, and tomorrow can drown in the abyss …

  - Let your pocket mirror will break the undivided power of this gilded doll on reflections in its own bastion! - with these words of the ENT specialist burst out laughing, and in her laughter it was possible to distinguish uneasy surf beat about the coast, the surf foretelling a storm.

  3.

  Gloomy presentiments of the Fairy came true.

  As soon as the Sea Chariot began to moor to the coast as it became clear that already waited for them. The same patrol of "STING" from 10 fairies astride winged animals stood up in arm.

  The fairy it is disturbing turned back towards Laura, silently expressing the concern. But Laura already understood everything and was made to fight.

  As the cat who was quietly heated on the sun more than a minute ago, having blissfully closed eyes, suddenly, at the sight of a mouse, instantly wakens from imaginary "hibernation" and accepts a hunting rack, and Laura. As wind blew off her thoughtfulness, its figure got some predatory bearing. It seemed, all her muscles clenched as the spring ready to be unclenched just about, and on coral lips there was a predatory smile which bared is dazzling white, as at a wild cat, teeth. Laura, as well as all mermaids, hated fairies and was ready to use any case to show them where their original "place". And the case was presented the most suitable …

  - For the sake of the Order and Prosperity, the former fairy of the 3rd rank, the former Keeper of the Limit No. 3, you come rather to the coast. You are arrested. To you not to leave. If you give up voluntarily, you commute the penalty. Think, it in your interests, - the same was distributed passionless if not indifferent, a voice Cream-Béla. As if there was no that annoying embarrassment on a glade which was so undermined authority of elite combat special forces of Skies!