by Vitaly Zykov
– What?
– I'm asking if you've noticed when the sun turned yellow again? Like on Earth!
– You, guys, are strange: it happened once we departed from that accursed shore, and you have just noticed. – She moved her whole body to Oleg and ruffled his hair.
He furrowed his forehead and chuckled sheepishly. He spent so much time on the deck, but has not noticed. Anastasia yawned, threw the blanket aside and jumped on her feet. Oleg admired her slim body once again. She was not the 90-60-90, but still beautiful and desirable. She was slender, intelligent, energetic, humorous, he was admiring her for three years already. He reached out and slapped her below her back.
– Fool! – The dressing girl hopped on her one leg. – I could fall!
– Well, fall! Into the bed – Oleg cocked an eye at her and wiggled his eyebrows. – Why do you get up?
– Because! Captain has invited us, early.
– What do you mean? He forbade us to go out of the cabin after the pirates! And anyway, when could he tell you that, since we were together all the time?
Nastya laughed:
– When you deigned to sleep! One sailor knocked on the door, I opened it, and received the invitation, and lay down again, and you, sir sluggard, did not even wake up.
– Well then does this mean that I have to get up and get dressed?
– Mm-hm, yeah. Ten minutes later this terrible ship's bell will ring, and we ought to be there. – And then she noticed inconsistently, almost in singsong voice: – How wonderful is not being seasick! You cannot even imagine.
– You're right here. I've never been seasick in my life. – The last few words were muffled. Oleg bent to tie his shoelaces.
Finally, they were ready and went together to the chief cabin. In the passage they met Olesya and Natasha, accompanied by Bernard. Apparently, he was seriously interested in these girls. It was not only clear which one exactly.
«Maybe both at once?» – Came a surprised thought. – «God knows, what are the customs here. Maybe they practice polygamy». Oleg looked at his girlfriend and by her puzzled look realized that she was thinking the same thing.
Captain Irung was waiting for them already in the chief cabin. He was standing in his favorite position near the open porthole. They seated at the table, only Bernard remained outside. There was a tense silence. Lir Irung seemed to have forgotten about his guests, thinking about his own problems. Finally, he turned and strode briskly to the table. At the same moment, two stewards came into the cabin and began to deftly set the table. Judging by the luxury of table ware, they were going to celebrate a significant event. The captain confirmed this conclusion:
– Today is a wonderful day. In six hours our journey will be completed, we'll arrive at the port of Seven Towers and stand together before Lir Bryms, the Master of Punishers.
From the captain's voice they could guess that this Bryms was a very influential person. But Oleg worried about more important things. Easily, like a native resident of this planet, he spoke with the captain in common speech:
– Captain, of course, I understand that we must meet with your rulers, but what is going to happen to us after that? It seems to me, that by your standards, we are nothing, we are not nobles, we have no money, no connections or influence. We are absolutely powerless. You can do whatever you want to us. Even sell into slavery!
At the last words Lir Irung even shuddered.
– There is no slavery in Nold! Even peasants are tenants! And as for you, remember: Nold never betrays or leaves loyal people! Never!
But Oleg, alerted that Irung said about absence of slavery in Nold, but said nothing about the rest of Toarn, continued to insist.
– I definitely trust you, Lir Irung. – Oleg was already familiar with some local rules of etiquette, and tried hard not to forget to pay honor to the True magician (though, he had not figured out the exact meaning of it yet). All the sailors whom he had questioned on it only rolled their eyes and clicked their tongues in admiration in response. – But we are useless for you. We have nothing, and we are strangers in your world.
A thin smile touched lips of the magician. It was unusual for his cautious and secretive nature. Apparently, Oleg's words amused him a lot.
– You are disingenuous speaking of your worthlessness. You are people from another world, and that's enough. You and your knowledge have a huge scientific interest, and collaboration with our researchers will give you the opportunity to settle in our world.
– We would not allow to conduct experiments on us! – Oleg fancied the words about research even less than words about slavery. – We are humans, not lab animals!
The captain frowned irritably:
– I said nothing about experiments! We do not need to carry out experiments on you. You will just pass a long examination, it's about blood composition, hair quality, your aura and so forth. That's all. We are not barbarians. The republic of Nold is a civilized state and values human life. In addition, you will be offered to share knowledge about your world. For a while it will become your job. And I can tell, a well-paid job.
Oleg was still unsatisfied and continued to insist:
– I believe you, Lir Irung, but with all due respect, you are not a ruler and can't guarantee our safety. Your ruler can change our alleged future to the worse.
Irung's eyes flashed with anger, he opened his mouth to answer, but Olesya interrupted him:
– Oleg, stop badgering. You are just like Yarik. He whined all the time as well. That is bad, this is bad. Lir Irung explained you everything clearly, but you are still dissatisfied.
Anastasia's resentment for Oleg even made her tremble. Oleg put his hand on her knee under the table in order to calm her down. She shuddered, but obeyed. Olesya's attack remained unanswered. So, Irung spoke again:
– You are certainly right worrying about your safety, but trust me, you worry in vain. Everything will be exactly as I said. – His voice was calm and so condescending, that Oleg even blushed. – Now let enjoy an excellent lunch. The next time we are going to have it on the land already.
So that is how the guests or rather prisoners, spent this holiday lunch deep in doubt. Gloomy thoughts clouded all their faces not only Oleg and Nastya's. Apparently, Oleg managed to engender doubts even in Olesya and Natasha. But, the strangest thing was that Irung was gloomy too.
«Oh, evidently something is going wrong, my dear captain. You have problems, and very big problems. Almost as we do». – Some unexplained gloat filled Oleg. So, this time Nastya worriedly covered his hand with hers and gently squeezed it. Oddly enough, but it worked. As if a veil fell from his eyes, and Oleg could calmly finish the lunch. Come what may. They are not in a position to change anything and a bit of healthy fatalism always helps to save energy. All will be solved within a few hours and there is no need to wreck his brain.
It was getting dark. The ship approached the harbor. Signal flags leaped up and the captain Irung sent a short identification impulse to the watchtowers on the shore of the gulf. In response, a thick chain sealed with sophisticated spells blocking the entrance into the harbor began to sink with rustle. At six o'clock in the evening entrance into the harbor was prohibited for any ships, excluding, of course, the ships of Nold. Port of Seven Towers had never been taken by enemy and its residents wanted to keep it this way in the future.
Quietly cutting the water surface, «Kiss of the Great Snake» came to the pier of magicians. As it was evident from the title, only ships of the Magicians Lodge could moor here. There was a closed carriage on the stone pier already, accompanied by as much as two Gray cloaks. «My message was received, obviously!» – Irung thought joyfully. Immediately after the rescue, he sent a messenger with a brief letter about the passengers and about the strangeness of the trip. The first response to his message was unobtrusive observation – three days before the end of the journey a kind of a dome covered the «Kiss». The observer could not be seen, but some instinct told Irung that that was friendly. T
hey were probably hopping to detect the ones strongly interested in the ship during its whole journey. And now they were guarded by Gray cloaks. They were dangerous fighters able to defeat almost any enemy. Only the best of the best could enter into this closed caste of Archimagus bodyguards. Obviously, results of the expedition were valued very high.
Irung, Bernard and their passengers sat into the carriage. Oleg, as always, was very wary, and that aroused stable sympathy in Irung.
«If everything goes well with him, he will rise high. He is sensible, smart, self-collected, and if I am not mistaken, has talent of a True magician. Sorry, but the girls don't the same. Anastasia is worth something, but the rest – are dummies. And there is nary magic in them». – With such thoughts the road to the summer residence of Lir Vittor passed quickly. One of the Gray cloaks informed the young magician in a low voice that they are going straight to Archimagus. Irung only nodded, but tensed inside. He is going to reception with Archimagus! Though, at the Academy, they shared a rumor that Irung has connections with Archimagus, he knew that he was only awarded a few short, meaningless meetings, and this time he had pretty good reasons to worry.
The rescued people worried too, or in fact, two of them: Oleg frowned, Anastasia asked him something. Only Olesya and Natasha were amused. They were chatting with Bernard and he replied to them enthusiastically.
Irung chuckled to himself: «Well, our bachelor Bernard has been captured. And more over captured in two nets at once! So what? According to the law he could have three wives! Especially considering that the girls are from another world…»
They arrived to the gate of a luxurious mansion. The residence of Archimagus and the ruler of Nold appeared before them in all its glory and grandeur. Once upon a time, the best architects of Nold built this palace (as they call it in Grold), and it was one of the most beautiful buildings in all Nold. But Irung did not care for that – he cursed himself with the worst words. He, a battle magician, was so relaxed that he did not even notice them using the spell of straight path under his nose! Only that could explain such high speed of the carriage.
The gates opened without any noise and the carriage rolled quietly into the yard. People came out of the carriage, and servants led them to the house. Through the backdoor. Irung understood that they did not arrive through the front gate.
They were already walking through narrow passages of the huge house, winding like a hare doubling its trail. Finally, at some point they got separated. The passengers with Bernard were taken to a room, they were told that lir Vittor would meet them the next day, but Irung was demanded to be seen right now. He could only swear in a low voice: he did not really want to report to Archimagus now and then be rebuked (there was no way they would do without it!). But, as always, no one asked him what he wanted. He was just a subordinate!
The modest door opened in front of him as if by itself, and he entered the room with merrily crackling fireplace and bookcases along all the walls. It was a library, the personal library of Archimagus, the holy of holies! The experience of the room was so strong that he noticed three chairs at the window, in two of which were men with glasses of wine in hands, in the last turn. Though meanwhile there were people who set the policies for all Toarn. Lir Vittor and lir Bryms: Archimagus and his right hand, the Master of Punishers. Goosebumps ran over the young magician's back: he was going to have a difficult conversation!
– Why are you standing there, my boy?! Take a chair. Take a load off your feet, we want to hear your story. – Bicentennial Archimagus, unlike Bryms looked like a seventy year-old. Bushy gray beard, an aquiline penetrating gaze, silk robe and impressive staff near the arm of his chair immediately inspired respect. Vittor always seriously prepared for any negotiations and used his appearance with maximum benefit for himself.
Bryms only raised his glass in salute and winked encouragingly – as if saying «do not be shy»! Condescending attitude always made Irung flare up. He concentrated like before a fight, collected his escaping thoughts and with a firm step came to the free chair. Bryms made a slight movement with his finger and a full glass standing on the table moved towards Irung. The latter nodded his thanks and began the story. He spoke in military short, concise sentences, outlining the situation. He forgot nothing: neither the feeling of «look into his back» on the way to Zaarr'h'dorr, nor the spy running away, nor the sea combat, his escape and miraculous salvation. He talked endlessly, occasionally sipping wine from the glass. He had never seen such listeners. The powerful magicians listened to him very carefully, without interruption, only occasionally with short remarks directing the course of his narrative. Irung's story, more similar to a confession, lasted a couple of hours. Finally he stopped and helplessly leaned back in his chair. A deep silence fell, broken only with dry crackling of burning wood in the fireplace fenced with a screen of colored glass. Because of that, the glow of fire put bizarre glares on the walls of the room, giving a quaint charm to such meetings.
Vittor broke the silence first. He turned to Bryms, as if forgotten about the young captain:
– Check it out, Bryms. Now that's what I call wheels in motion! Everyone's out of their holes!
Bryms stirred and adjusted his snow-white suit.
– Well, you are overrating, by far, not everyone! Light Elves and Orcs are not involved. The spy was clearly from some black coven, they've always loved these creatures from Underworld. The steam ships are most likely the work of Dwarves…
Here Irung could not refrain himself, at the last words he jumped from his chair and disrespectfully interrupted the Master of Punishers:
– But dwarves and water are incompatible things. Dwarf goes to sea only if he has some very solid reasons, very solid! That's why they have no ships, not even river ones!
Bryms raised his hand, stopping the verbal flow of the young magician:
– You're in a hurry again. I did not say that that were Dwarves, I said it «most likely was the work of Dwarves». You see, these are two different things. They could be fulfilling someone's order.
– But the sea trials, launchings… To build such a ship, you need so much… – Irung could not calm down.
– That's right, it means it's a whole state standing behind that. Some rich and powerful state which could hide its activity from us.
– Well, why did they have to attack my ship at all; moreover, under the flag of Blood Brotherhood? Although the last point is clear: it was necessary to raise a flag, so strange that they did not raise ours!
Suddenly, lir Vittor chimed in the dialogue.
– You laugh in vain. They did not care whose flag to raise, but they raised the flag of Snake archipelago. That was not an accident. These unknown enemies tried to show something. – Archimagus paused and added: – But to whom?
– A serious game has begun. And it is very strange that we are out of it. The first time in two thousand years, we just a pawn in a foreign party, a bargaining pawn. Apparently, the ship was not only attacked because of information and passengers, but also to demonstrate someone's position. And then the third force interfered…
– Dark Elves… No doubt they were Dark Elves. They were always fond of such spectacular strikes. As for the pursuers, think that was Tlantos.
Irung goggled:
– Tlantos? But, they're nothing. Their only merit is that they are located in the place of ancient Nekrond.
– Tlantos was the enemy of wartags many and more years ago and was destroyed only in Three Hundred Years' War – said Bryms with gleaming eyes.
– But wartags never exis… – Irung started ardently and stopped, looking at serious faces of his companions. – That's incredible! When Master Bryms told me about wartags before the campaign, I did not believe.
– You were wrong. Wartags existed and ruled this world. They destroyed all their enemies. Nekrond was last spot of resistance, it was known as a center of evil. Necromancers of Nekrond were strong, but wartags were stronger. Though even wartags could not resist internal en
emies. All the information we know about them comes from the Horror Lists. – The voice of Archimagus was ice-cold. – These Lists are available for very few magicians, today you will get them. So, you should read them at your leisure. This collection of scary tales describes the sequence of events that could destroy all life on Toarn.
– And you are guided by tales? – Irung could not help being sarcastic.
– Yes. For the events described in them, began to come true. Well, it's later, but for now I am very concerned about that Yaroslav. You're right, I do not believe in his death. I simply do not. – Turning to Bryms, Archimagus continued: send the Wing of Agate claws to Sarduor. Let them scour there. That may also take a certain somebody down a notch.
Bryms nodded:
– Particular attention to the lands of Steward?
– Of course.
CHAPTER 10
Yaroslav walked through a fatally dangerous forest. Though walking is not quite the right word, he crept, slid over the ground, flowed like mercury, from one point to another. His taut feeling probed every inch of the surrounding space for ten yards around. Crossing through the river, intense fear and deadly danger paved the way for his transformation and unknown magic finished the job. The mask of a predator, which successfully helped him to survive during the infinitely long way through the Death Forest, had now completely replaced the man's character. Nobody could recognize the former good-natured guy Yaroslav Klykov in this killer rushing for his goal.
The speed of his movement significantly increased. There was no need to waste time and energy in unnecessary doubts natural for man. The source of magic was approaching. The surrounding forest had changed. Its appearance became more ennobled. As if you walk through an old park, abandoned long ago, but still a park. Trees gradually became rarer, forming wide passage in the flat wall of the forest. Cobblestones which obviously used to have a regular form in former times began to appear underfoot. Finally, they merged into a gray ribbon of a paved road. Probably, for an outside observer, the opened picture would seem quite strange. An ancient road with mysteriously shimmering signs, carved on stones. Trees as old as the stones, bearing memory of those who walked over these cobblestones, stomping them with feet or paws or scratching them with claws, and perhaps stopping to sit in shade. Unnatural silence was around. All sounds typical of any normal forest, even this one, had disappeared. Only slaps of bare heels broke the silence. A completely naked man, who was not ashamed of his nakedness, was running rapidly towards his goal.
