Бесплатный фрагмент - Elven heritage

Part 1. Forgotten book

Chapter 1. Night in the slums

The moon hung like a sharp sword over Tivol, the capital of Suthering. The stench of horse urine, which evaporated when it landed on a stone hot under the scorching sun during the day, was hardly drowned out by the rose oil. Drunken swearing was heard from the tavern. The slums on the outskirts were strikingly different from the luxury to which Still was accustomed.

— Well, have you seen enough? Satisfied? — Lewis asked.

— You are always dissatisfied, Lew! People live like this for years and don’t complain,» Still said.

— Those are people. They are accustomed to poverty. And you probably would have died a long time ago from inhaling horse urine.

— You might think you’re not used to luxury! But I want to know how ordinary people live. The time will come when I will replace my father. When I ascend the throne, I need to know the people well.

Lewis was silent for a while, thinking. How long has he been accustomed to luxury? Who loves the king’s illegitimate children? The courtiers wrinkled their noses, disgustedly whispering the offensive nickname: «Bastard!» The common people called him «the king.» He had to spend the night in pigsties, and sometimes even on the road. His life changed on the day when Dinor rode with his army through the lands of Lorraine. The King of Suthering decided to pick up the exiled boy. It’s always a good idea to have your opponent’s enemy on hand, especially when he has royal blood in him. Lewis grew up at Dinora Castle in Tivol.

— Just don’t tell your father that I brought you here! Lewis said.

— What are you afraid of? — asked Still. — We will walk a little around Tivol at night, and return to the castle before dawn. Father won’t notice anything, you’ll see.

— Not the best place for walking!

Still put a finger to his lips.

— Do you hear? — he whispered.

— What should I hear?

— You were born with a wine cork in your ear! We need to take you to a healer. Don’t you hear?

— What are you talking about? — Lewis asked.

— Steps. Someone is coming for us!

Someone threw a bag over Still’s head. The prince, without hesitation, hit his attacker with all his might on the bridge of his nose. When Still removed the bag from his head, he saw crossbow bolts pointed in his direction. The guys were surrounded by armed men.

— Better not resist, boy! — said one of the bandits. — If you behave like good boys, not a single hair will fall from your heads.

— What do you need? — Lewis asked. — We don’t have any gold with us!

«We’ll search your pockets ourselves,» said the leader of the robbers, «the slave buyer will pay well for your carcasses.» Muscular, these are exactly what the quarry needs. His convoy is passing nearby, we’ll offer you a couple of strong slaves.

The veins in Still’s cheeks bulged with anger.

— Slaves, you say! I’ll show you the slaves now!

He took from the sheath that was hidden under the flaps of his cloak, a sword decorated with precious stones with a silver hilt.

— Come on, boy! — said the robber. — Throw the sword on the ground immediately. Otherwise I’ll shoot.

— Try it!

— Hey, Jim, you lied! — one of the bandits shouted. — You said that no one would look for them. But I recognized him. He rode next to the king at the Spring Festival. Look at his sword! This is the royal sword. Jim, what have you gotten us into? He’s a prince!

— And what? — said the leader. — Do you think they don’t give enough for princes? Do you know how much Silver will pay for his head?

Still looked at the enemy without blinking.

— So Silver is involved in this?

— Grab them! — Jim shouted. But the bandits shook their heads in confusion.

— Sorry, Jim, but we don’t want to get involved in your games. I’m leaving.

— And me too.

— And I.

A minute, and there are three people on the street. Jim switched the crossbow from Lewis to Still. He realized that the advantage was no longer on his side and began to run. Bandits are brave people when there are many of them. And alone they turn into cowards.

— We must not let him escape! — Still shouted. — Follow him! We have to give it to dad! He knows something about my brother!

They raced through the slums. But Jim knew these places better. Lewis threw the knife and hit the bandit in the leg. He fell to the ground.

— Please, just don’t kill! Jim groaned. — Although, you can kill. I’m now a non-resident anyway. Silver has ears everywhere. If he finds out that I was caught, I’m dead!

— You will come with us! Still said.

Chapter 2. Royal Council

The lush hall smelled of incense and almonds. Dinor was reclining on the sofa. The young maids fanned him with fans so that the king, God forbid, would not suffer a stroke from the heat. One of the maids was hand-feeding grapes. The advisors stood in a semicircle, their eyes cast to the floor.

«Call Still,» Dinor said. — He must be present too.

After some time, the door swung open and the prince entered the room, accompanied by an old servant.

— Hello, son! Congratulations! You turned seventeen today. We will have a magnificent feast in your honor.

The councilors clapped their hands.

— But this is not the most important thing. From today you will be present at all councils next to me. Take a seat, it is not right for a prince to stand on an equal footing with the nobles.

Dinor gestured to Still towards the throne next to the royal sofa. This throne has been empty since the last time Silver, the king’s eldest son, sat on it. Anyone who had not seen Dinor for several years would not have recognized in the flabby, pot-bellied, constantly intoxicated old man the warrior he once was. But the betrayal of his eldest son and the death of his wife almost brought him to the grave. If it weren’t for the wine, he would have committed suicide long ago.

«Colonel Darsu, report,» Dinor ordered.

— Your Grace, the prisoner has been interrogated. We received a confession from him.

— Bring him here!

— Your Grace, this is not the best idea.

— Will you challenge the king’s orders? — Dinor asked, raising his eyebrows high.

— Valin! — Darsu shouted loudly. A few seconds later the door opened and a out of breath soldier in full uniform ran into the hall.

— Take him, Valin! — Darsu commanded.

— This minute, Your Honor!

A few minutes later, the guards brought in a bruised man who could barely stand on his feet.

— Do you even know who you’re looking at? — Darsu asked. — Teach this guy some noble manners!

— On knees! — Valin shouted at the prisoner.

The man fell to the floor, almost bruising his forehead.

— Your Majesty, this is the same Jim Throatcutter whom we have been looking for for five years now. If it weren’t for Prince Still, we would have been looking for several more years! — said Darsu.

«Oh, that same Jim,» said Dinor. — I’ve heard a lot.

The king stood up from the sofa and patted Still on the shoulder.

— Well done, son!

He walked up to Jim and gave him his hand.

— Get up! What, did they treat you cruelly? I’m sorry if something’s wrong. You understand, they are martinets, what can you take from them?

The advisors and guards didn’t even turn their heads, pretending not to pay attention to Dinor’s actions. He is a king, he knows better how to behave with a criminal.

— Tell me, who advised you to attack my only son?

Jim became bolder, even looked the king in the eyes.

«Not one of the advisers can afford such insolence!» — Darsu thought.

«I’ve already told the guards several times.» Your son paid me for this. I’m talking about Silver.

Dinor’s expression changed, and a flash of anger flashed through him.

— Silver is no longer my son! Don’t you dare say another word about him! So why does he need my only son? All the same, I will not hand over the throne to him, even if there is no other heir left besides him.

— Nevertheless, he has the right to your crown. And behind him is the huge army of Morelia. He is already approaching the borders of Suthering.

— Take the scoundrel away! — Dinor shouted. Darsu looked at Valin. The soldier understood the commander at a glance. He grabbed Jim’s hand.

«Let’s go,» said Valin.

— Execute him at dawn! — Dinor said.

— You promised! Jim groaned. «They promised me that if I told the truth, they wouldn’t touch me.» I have a wife and three children!

«And I have one son,» Dinor said. — And you made an attempt on his life. Take me away!

No sooner said than done. When the door closed behind the criminal, Dinor spoke:

— Councilor Wind, report on the situation at the borders.

— I’ve been hearing disturbing rumors for a long time. I’m not ready to give the king unverified information. But Morelia has long been preparing for an attack on the borders of Suthering. I underestimated the rumors I heard. After torturing Jim, I realized that we had been underestimating the enemy all this time.

— You will answer later for hiding information from the king, Councilor. Colonel Darsu, report on the readiness of the army.

Darsu didn’t have time to say a word when Advisor Anilix interrupted him:

— Your Highness, Silver is a powerful sorcerer, and you know this very well. They say he hobnobs with evil spirits, he is a strong rival. His wife, Queen Regatta, is also a witch!

— The Inquisition will also participate in this war! — said Gvirtel, head of the Anti-Witchcraft League of Suthering. This was the first time this had happened for the court magician and the anti-magician to come to a common opinion. The king noticed this and was on his guard. — Silver is a powerful magician, and he challenges the Anti-Witch League.

Dinor does not need to explain that Silver challenged not only the Inquisition, but also Gvirtel personally when he declared Morelia a country without anti-mages. And the head of the Anti-Witch League will not leave this just like that, without an answer.

— What are your suggestions, advisors? — asked the king.

Anilix was the first to speak:

— I heard rumors…

— Rumors are reaching all of you! — the king boiled. «They just reach me late.» Don’t pull the horse’s bridle, advisor. You better not test my patience!

— I know where the Elvish dictionary is! — Anilix said, and absolute silence reigned in the hall for a while. Even Dinor’s jaw dropped. He patted the adviser on the shoulder:

— Good news is reaching you. If we could get our hands on a book, what would be a significant trump card in the game with Morelia!

— You can’t, Your Majesty! — Gvirtel shouted. — Don’t listen to Councilor Anilix. Better yet, throw him in prison! This is not why the Anti-Witch League fought against sorcerers for so many years, in order to bring back the original magic to our educated age! I appeal to your reason, Your Majesty!

«The Anti-Witch League lost a long time ago,» Dinor raised his voice. — On the day when the Empire of Magicians collapsed. The inquisitors probably did not understand that they were anti-magicians as long as there were sorcerers. And now you are ridiculous and useless.

— What about the period of the reign of Emperor Hellenius?

— How did it end, Gvirtel, have you forgotten the story? Moreover, already at that time Beelzuvik did not have any power over Suthering. I will give the anti-mages a chance to restore their former greatness. I will return your antipode — real magic!

— Your Mightiness! — Gvirtel’s eyes glowed. If this were a simple man in front of him, and not a king, the adviser would now glare at him.

— You are forgetting yourself, Gvirtel. Don’t test my patience. Jesters and minstrels sing obscene songs about my hot temper. But I forgive them — they are jesters to distract people from real problems. And I will not forgive you, adviser. The meeting is over for today!

***

Still walked through the garden with his mentor Nermall. The old teacher taught the prince everything he knew. Nermall has seen the world; any warrior would envy his experience. He taught Still how to fight with fists and swords, how to navigate the terrain and find a source of power even in an impassable desert.

A strekquil, a huge dragonfly, flew from a bush, and Still turned his head in fear.

— What worries you, student? — asked Nermall.

— Yes, nothing…

— I’ve known you since you were a child. You know that you can trust me completely.

Still could trust the old man with his life. Nermall, the son of a Belzuvian nobleman, received a good education, even studied for several years at the University. But women broke the fates of many. So at twenty-four he found himself on a pirate ship. In four countries, he would have faced a death sentence if he had been caught, of course. In two more countries he would have spent the rest of his days in prison. That is why he spent most of his life in the ocean. But Dinor’s people managed to catch the old robber. Dinor was then suffering from terrible back pain, and Nermall was a doctor on a pirate ship. He just happened to have zaneeris lying around, a medicinal plant from the Unknown Lands. In gratitude for his health, the king gave the man life. Dinor made him a court physician, and then a teacher to his youngest son.

Dinor is generally a strange person. Usually hot-tempered, in moments of insight he did noble deeds. So, for example, he picked up a bastard boy during the attack on Lorraine, and in general more often he chose officials based on real talent, and not on noble origin.

— So what’s bothering you, student? — asked Nermall.

— Teacher, tell me about the elven dictionary!

— I don’t know much. Maybe it’s just a legend? Who knows!

— Tell me everything you know!

— Okay, listen!

Chapter 3. The Legend of the Elves.

— They say that elves came down from heaven. They once had wings and roamed the clouds. Then there was a war between the high elves. It was led by Zaymond, a fallen elf. He declared himself equal to the Creator. Some joined him, others went against him. There were also those who realized in time the mistake of joining the army of the fallen. They stopped participating in battles. After the war, those who swore allegiance to Zeymond were overthrown. And the elves who remained on the sidelines were exiled to earth to serve their punishment until the end of the human race.

So they lived in the forest, which is now called Clearings. The ancestors called it the Magic Forest. Their village is hidden behind trees from prying eyes; no one disturbed their peace.

Until one day, a Morellian, General Dartel, wandered here. There is no end to the war between Morelia and Lorraine. It began in those immemorial times, and ended literally half a century ago. And that truce can be broken at any moment.

The elves picked up a thin man, in rags and scars. Dartel was hungry and dying of thirst. But you can’t stop — the enemies were on your heels. The elves had never met people before. They did not know about the cunning of the human race. Herberolden, the king of the elves, gave the man the juice of zaneeris and applied leaves of the medicinal plant to the wounds. Then he whispered magic words, and the wound instantly healed.

Dartel watched the elves for a long time. He tried to understand their language and customs. The words spoken by the elven priest immediately became the truth. The words of a rare person carry weight. You can promise anything, swear by your health, your father, brother, mother, and even the immortality of your soul, and then betray. We have lost the habit of believing words. But not the elves, they remembered the true power of words, so they did not waste the seeds of words to the wind. But when they say, the earth shook and new worlds arose. They gave birth to true magic; it has long been absent from our lands. All the greatest magicians of past eras are only a shadow of the elven priests, in terms of strength and greatness. In the elven language there are no such words as «pain», «death», only «love», «light», «joy»… The dark side of elven magic was invented by people.

— Don’t you see, Herberolden, your strength? — asked Dartel. «You can rule the world if you want.» People will fall at your feet. They won’t be able to do anything against your strength!

«Don’t say such words,» said Herberolden. «Otherwise I will have to expel you.» One of us is already rotting in hell for such words!

They forgot about this conversation. But Dartel never parted with parchment and quill. He caught every rare word of the priests, tried to understand the meaning of the shade of each emotion in order to better translate it into the language of people. He created the elven dictionary — a tome. It contains a huge collection of elven spells.

And then Dartel persuaded some of the priests, and they went with the man. Dartel with a handful of elves conquered Morelia, then with a small army of soldiers trained in magic, he conquered all of Eldoras. His empire expanded, but his thirst for power could not be quenched so easily. He captured two-thirds of Sanem’s lands and almost all of Enni’s lands. I wanted to move east, but again I came across an abandoned elven village.

— Your Majesty, we cannot leave unconquered lands behind. The empire must be intact! — one of the advisers said to Dartel.

— Gerberolden, obey me, the only true ruler of these lands! — Dartel said then. But the elven king laughed in the man’s face. What can a self-taught magician do in a battle with a native elf? Maybe he would have stood on equal terms against one of his children, but Herberolden is a true elf, he was born somewhere in the upper world.

Then the war between elves and people began. The forest was burning in magical fire. On that day, the magic of people was born. Elvish words did not disappear, like human ones, having fulfilled their purpose. They solidified into a viscous substance among the trees and saturated the air. After that battle, the forest became magical, enchanted.

There is no trace left of the elven settlement. Elves and human sorcerers tormented each other. And those who survived decided to hide the book in a place where no one would find it.

— Maybe we shouldn’t look for the book either? — asked Still. — She carries so much evil within herself!

«It’s not that simple,» said Nermall. — Who knows what Silver found in the ruins of Antimonik? But now he is one of the most powerful magicians on earth. If he’s not stopped, who knows how far he’ll go? And the book can give us a chance in the war with Morelia.

— Nermall, how do you know so much about this book?

— I read a lot. I have traveled and heard many stories.

— Hey, Still, what are you doing here? — Lewis shouted out of nowhere. — Everyone is preparing for a feast in your honor, and here you are walking in the park! You know, friend, I don’t have much good. But I want to give you a gift for coming of age.

Lewis took the pendant from his neck and placed it around Still’s neck.

— This is the little that remains of my mother. This amulet should protect you from many problems!

— Truly a royal gift! — said Nermall. — This pendant cannot be stolen or taken away by force. It can only be received as a gift!

— Thank you friend! — Still hugged Lewis.

— Happy holiday to you!

The friends did not know what surprise Fate was preparing for them.

Chapter 4. Feast

Thousands of candles and torches were lit, so that not a trace remained of the usual twilight of the castle. The musicians played pipes and lutes. The dancers danced. The aroma of meat baked in spices wafted through the hall. Incense was lit.

Servants carried baked geese with apples and roasted wild boar on silver trays. Trays of meat and fruit emptied faster than cups of wine.

Then Damgam, the court jester, came out. Most jesters are dwarfs, but this tall fellow is as thin as a pillar. He pulled a coin from behind Still’s ear. The guests applauded. Then, to the sound of a lute, he sang:

Glory to you, great one, our fat king,

This is your unenviable role.

You are angry like an animal, well, always drunk!

The wolf is evil on the inside, but the boar on the outside!

Absolute silence reigned in the hall for a minute. Even the musicians stopped playing. Hundreds of eyes are directed at the impudent jester. Dinor broke the silence. He laughed loudly:

— I wouldn’t forgive anyone else! Long ago any minstrel who dared to sing such a thing, even in a whisper, would have burned at the stake. But I forgive you. Sing some more! Cheer up the old man!

The jester sang again, without hitting a single note:

The eldest prince lives in a distant land,

He sold his soul to Satan,

His soul obeyed the witch,

He is slowly making plans for the battle!

— Enough! — Dinor hit the table with his fist in anger. — You need to know when to stop! Go away!

The jester laughed evilly. Each time the meeting between the king and the jester ended with Dinor driving Dangam away in anger, but then calling him again the next evening to sing a new song about some nobleman or about the king himself.

— Or what, Dinor? Will you cut off my balls?

Dangam was castrated by a nobleman when he found him with his wife. Since then, Dangam’s jokes have become angrier. And he began to fear less for his life, which is why he allowed himself liberties that others would have been afraid of. He would be happy if he were hanged. What kind of life is there without women?

— Get out! — Dinor shouted.

— Okay, okay, I’m coming! But don’t call me today! — said the jester, closing the door behind him.

For some time there was silence in the hall. But then Dinor said, smiling:

— We have gathered today on a joyful occasion: today Prince Still turned seventeenth spring. Let’s drain the cups to the bottom!

All the guests put cups to their lips.

— But that’s not the only reason I gathered you. Dangam is right. There will soon be a war with Morelia.

The guests whispered:

— War?

— War again?

— Morelia?

— But I know where the weapon is with which we can defeat Silver. I plan to send an expedition to the Unknown Lands!

The guests looked at each other in fear.

— Unknown Lands? Didn’t I hear it?

«It also seemed to me that the king said exactly that.»

— Your Highness! — Colonel Darsu expressed the general idea louder than others. — It’s suicide to go to the Unknown Lands! No one returned from there alive!

— So, there won’t be a single volunteer who will go to distant lands, perhaps to certain death, but for the sake of saving the Motherland? — Dinor looked around at those present.

«I’ll go get the book,» Still said quietly.

— What, son? — Dinor asked. — Do you want to say something?

— I will go to the Unknown Lands! — Still said, this time his voice echoed throughout the entire hall.

— No, son, what are you talking about! How can you go there! — Dinor laughed nervously. — It is unknown what awaits the traveler along the road! There will be others who will risk their lives. And you are the crown prince, your life must be protected.

— Will they respect me when I become king if I sit in the castle, sending others to their deaths? — Still looked carefully into his father’s eyes. — Did you ever sit out your time?

Didn’t sit back! People loved Dinor because he always walked ahead of the squad. Lately the king had almost gone mad, but people still respected him for his old exploits.

— I will go! Still insisted.

— You’re not going anywhere!

— Father!

— Are there anyone who wants it? Are there really no more candidates?

— Father, give me a birthday present!

— Your Majesty! — Anilix said. — All the kings of antiquity, before ascending to the throne, performed a feat. Give your son this chance too! How is he worse than his ancestors?

— Dad, please!

A single tear ran down the drunken king’s cheek.

— So be it. I prepared another birthday present for you — Councilor Wind personally chose the prostitute. I wanted you to become a man today, but I was too late. You are already a mature husband if you can make such decisions! I am the city with my son! So it’s destined — you will go on this dangerous journey. But I won’t send you away yourself. Who will go with my son?

— I will go! Lewis was the first to shout. «I can’t send my faithful friend on a dangerous journey myself!»

— And I’ll go! — said Nermall.

— You’re already old! — said Councilor Wind.

— Yes, but I will give most of the young people a head start. I taught Still a lot, but I didn’t pass on a lot of knowledge to him.

— I’ll go too!

— And I!

— And I want to go!

Many warriors’ hands reached up.

— We can’t send a large detachment! — Dinor laughed. «Even a blind sentry will notice such a detachment.» Colonel Darsu, choose the best.

— I myself wouldn’t mind going for the princes Still! — Colonel Darsu said.

— No, Colonel. You, together with Advisor Wind, will prepare our troops for war. No one can say for sure whether this book exists. We can’t bet all our cards on just the lost elven tome!

***

Still had a fair amount of wine. But the girl who was brought to his bed dispelled his intoxication for a while.

— What is your name? — the young man asked, stroking the blond, curly-haired beauty’s chin.

— Does it matter? Men never asked my name. And I don’t care what your name is. The main thing is that the money is paid!

She tore off the prince’s shirt. And then they loved each other.

***

Still’s head was pounding. He barely opened his eyes, wanting to take a leak. The blonde girl next to him was awake. She whispered words in an unknown language. Seeing that Still was awake, she attacked him. Tenacious fingers squeezed his neck. Touching the amulet Lewis gave her, she hissed.

— What kind of strange amulet is this? — she asked.

— Who sent you? — asked Still, instantly sobering up.

— The one who will take the throne when you die! — she again reached for the prince’s neck, but Still grabbed the sword that was lying nearby and brought it to the attacker’s neck.

— Guards! — Still shouted. Valin entered the room.

— Valin, take her to prison. She’s a witch!

The girl threw her cloak over her naked body. Valin glanced at her every now and then as he led the captive through the corridors.

— You won’t arrest me, will you? Really, handsome? I’m a poor defenseless girl. Do you know what atrocities Still did to me? And when he got tired of me, he threw me away like an old toy. Spoiled child!

She threw off her cloak with an imperceptible movement. Valin looked at the naked body of the prostitute, unable to utter a word. He is the only one from the guard who has not found a bride, so the blonde turned his head.

— Come on, be brave! — the prostitute put Valin’s palm on her chest. And with an imperceptible movement of her hand, she grabbed a dagger and plunged it into the soldier’s chest. She took a bunch of keys and opened one of the dungeons.

— Eleanor? — Jim was surprised.

— You betrayed Silver. «You won’t live to see the morning for this,» said the blonde. A dagger was stabbed into the bandit’s chest. Jim never lived to see his execution. And Eleanor ran away.

Chapter 5. Exile

The sun was rising, painting the gray sky with all the colors of the rainbow. The summer turned out to be cool. The nightingale sang, breaking the silence of the sleeping deciduous forest. It was as if he was trying to tell the aspens and oaks: «Stop sleeping! Sony! Look how beautiful the world around you is. Get up, have fun, enjoy life!» It smelled like grass.

All that was left of the once lush, endless forest was a small island covered with trees. These places are called Clearings.

Silver set a pack of trained dogs on the trail of a wild boar. His crossbow is ready. A shadow similar to an animal will flash, and he will immediately release a crossbow bolt. His arrows are special, they are enchanted with magic. Therefore, the Morelian king rarely missed his target. He sniffed, using the sense of smell of one of the dogs, and fired an arrow. The boar roared and rushed straight at him. Then Silver, with an equally furious cry, took out his sword and rushed at the maddened animal. One wave of his hand, and the boar’s head rolled on the ground, cut off by a sword covered with magical runes.

He dipped his fingers into the hot blood and licked the life-giving liquid. It contains all the power of the being. Without blood there is no life.

Silver felt the call. Concentrating, he created a sphere that fit in the palm of his hand. The image of a woman appeared in this ball.

— Hello, Lord! — she said.

— Hello, Eleanor! What’s going on?

— Master, I carried out your order. Jim is dead. Can I go back?

— For what? I need a man in Tivol.

— But they will look for me! The guards saw my face and now I’m not safe. I also miss you. I want to see you not only in the cold glass of the palantir.

«You should stay,» Silver said.

— Don’t you miss me at all?

Silver was silent.

— Do you really not love me at all?

— You know who my heart belongs to.

The image of Eleanor disappeared, but Silver knew that the woman in her hearts threw the glass ball, and it rolled on the grass.

«I will show you what Regatta’s love is worth! I will punish this witch!» — I think Eleanor said something in this style. Silver smiled. Shouldn’t he know the value of this woman’s love? For her sake, he left his father’s house. Suthering is always in a state of readiness for war with Morelia. Silver’s father disowned him when he learned that the prince was engaged to the Queen of Morelia. Dinor cursed his eldest son.

So Silver lost his family for the sake of his beloved. He tried to remember the faces of his father and brother, but he couldn’t. It’s like someone erased the past. What remained was an all-consuming love, which did not fade away over the years, but became stronger.

The sphere on Silver’s hand disappeared. Danny, one of the generals, spoke up.

— Silver, I don’t understand how you do this? I have been accustomed to magic since childhood. I am not surprised by palantirs and other balls that allow you to see through space and time. But you don’t even need a glass ball!

— Objects are nothing. The main thing is their essence, the main thing is what they hide inside, what they are intended for. Once I held the palantir in my hand, I understood its essence, structure and purpose. And now I just need to revive this subject in my memory. Knowing the essence is more important than the subject itself. One day I will understand people, and then there will be no barriers left in front of me.

Silver closed his eyes, and another person appeared out of thin air next to him, Danny’s double.

— Sometimes it seems to me that I already understand people. But then I realize I’m wrong.

The general’s double disappeared in the same way as he appeared — dissolving into thin air.

— You know, Silver, sometimes I’m afraid of you. I don’t envy your enemies!

— I’m sometimes afraid of myself! — said Silver. And then he took out a pendant from his breast pocket. He opened it, and in it was a small image of a woman, drawn by one artist.

— Okay, it’s time to go home. The regatta is probably already exhausted. I didn’t tell her I was going hunting. Order the slaves to take the boar, and let’s go home!

Chapter 6. First step

The hardest thing is to take the first step. You look at your feet uncertainly and think, think, think… You imagine the dangers that await you on the way. Friends, and especially envious people, who do not want to change anything in life, who are afraid, but dream of living better, talk about the horrors that await you. And now you are shifting unsteadily from foot to foot, scratching the back of your head, and saying: «Do I need this? Isn’t it better to live without changes, quietly, calmly?» So you threw the bag that was hanging over your shoulders onto the floor. He sat down at the table and poured some wine. Then again, and again. And so on ad infinitum. Then old age will come, and you will think: «Maybe it was worth going on a journey? Maybe it would be better? You can’t go back to the past. The past is a wall, once it’s built, you can’t go back, and if you want to break it, you can lose your future.

And you can take the first step. Then another one. You take twenty steps and you can’t see your goal. But man is a lazy creature. He never wants to go back, even twenty steps. You will go forward into the unknown until you come to victory. Our whole life is the path to a dream! The main thing is not to be scared and take the first step, then it will be easier!

The horses neighed, marking time. Still mounted his horse first. The other nine travelers followed his example. Dinor tapped his son on the shoulder:

— Good luck, son. Fate is our mistress, we are all in her hands. Come back victorious! Know that we are waiting for you!

The king wiped away a tear that treacherously tried to wet his chin.

— With a shield — or on it! — Colonel Darsu said, raising his fist. The old warrior also wanted to go on a dangerous journey, but Dinor ordered him to stay to prepare for war.

«With a shield,» Dinor said. -Only with a shield. I believe that you will return victorious and save the Motherland in this difficult time!

The sun was rising on the horizon, but the heat was already unbearable. Maybe the stones underfoot don’t have time to cool down overnight? The bugles sounded and the squad set off. A crowd of onlookers saw off the prince and his faithful friends with looks full of admiration. Myrtle inflorescences and rose petals fell under the horses’ feet. The travelers disappeared behind the city gates, and the women were still waving white scarves and dabbing their tears.

We drove fast. There are many miles to the next tavern, you need to get there before sunset. Later you will often have to spend the night in the open air, but while you have the opportunity, it is better not to deny yourself comfort. Moreover, as Lewis once said, Still was used to living in luxury. This is the prince’s first journey.

— Well, don’t you want to come back? — Lewis laughed, overtaking Still. — Because the tender royal ass is probably not used to the hard saddle!

Still hit his horse under the sides and began to catch up with Lewis. Nermall shook his head and smiled:

— What kind of children they are! They would have all the toys. The young men do not understand where they have gone, how many dangers await them on this path!

— Were we not the same once? — Kurt laughed into his mustache.

— I still don’t mind competing! — Duncan said and spurred his horse. A few moments later he was already catching up with Still. — Come on, sleepyheads, who will get to the tavern faster?

After a while, all the horses were racing at full speed. Even old Nermall had the hot blood of a pirate boiling. He spent most of his life at sea, but even on land he often had to hide from soldiers. Therefore, he gave a head start to the young scoundrels.

We planned to get to the Gray Horse tavern when the moon rose. But when we got there, the one-day myrrh had hardly bloomed.

***

— Innkeeper, bring the roast goose. Or better yet, wild boar. And beer! — said Duncan.

— Maybe you want to rest first after a long journey? — the innkeeper spoke. — I’ll ask my son, he’ll show me where to take the things!

— What’s your name, guy? — Kurt asked.

— Daryl.

— Daryl, we drove all day without stopping. Yes, we are incredibly tired, but you can’t even imagine how hungry we are! I would eat a whole boar right now. But the only edible thing in front of me is you, fat man. You don’t want me to become a man-eater, do you?

The small hall smelled of beer and food. Looks like fried potatoes or something. And the smell of wild boar cannot be confused with anything else.

The maids hurried. They carried wooden mugs with a foamy drink. The men drank almost in one gulp, only Still and Lewis drank in small sips.

— What are they teaching today’s youth? — Nermall grinned. «They can’t even drink properly!»

The men laughed. Lewis snorted in displeasure. He furrowed his brow as he poured the rest of the mug into his mouth. Still continued to drink, taking his time.

It’s cool in the hall, or maybe it seemed so after a day spent on a horse in the heat. Several torches hung on the walls could not cope with the dimness in the room. The servants brought in a dish of wild boar roasted on a spit.

— Look, Kurt, don’t break your neck! — Duncan smiled. The man turned towards the dish, which spread the aromas throughout the entire room. When they put the dish on the table, the men began to tear off pieces of meat with their hands. Still tried to eat with a fork and knife for a while. Others looked mockingly at the spoiled prince. And then he abandoned the pointless idea and began to eat like others.

— Our person! — Nermall hit the prince on the shoulder.

— Bring some beer! — Duncan shouted.

Having eaten enough, the travelers lay down in the beds offered by the innkeeper.

***

— Hello, Nermall! — said the red-haired woman. Goosebumps ran through the old man’s body, and the woman laughed.

— Lisa, what are you doing here? You… You shouldn’t be here!

— Don’t be dark, Nermall! Say it straight: «You, Lisa, are dead!» You, Nermall, allowed my death, but I don’t blame you. I forgave you a long time ago.

«I’m sorry,» Nermall whispered.

— Kiss me like you did before? Do you remember at the first meeting? — Lisa reached out to him, but Nermall pulled away:

«I’m sorry,» the man whispered again. And then he opened his eyes, wiping cold sweat from his forehead.

He hadn’t dreamed of her for a long time. The wound did not heal completely, but did not bleed for several springs. He did not forget her face, but tried not to think about Lisa. Now the memories flooded again, as if through a broken dam.

They first met at the bazaar. Nermall, as always, was in a hurry to get somewhere, and brushed his shoulder against the red-haired silk saleswoman. A pile of clothes fell from her hands, and the wind began to blow away the light silk. Nermall picked up all the dresses. For one I had to run to the corner.

«Thank you,» she said. Since then, the student, the son of a nobleman, began secretly meeting with a young merchant. His father was preparing a rich future for him, and there was no place for a non-noble girl there. Nermall and Lisa were happy. They didn’t notice the spies who were watching them. One day Nermall came to the appointed place at a certain time. Lisa was not there. His heart sank with alarming foreboding and Nermall did not know what to do. He trudged home. That night he never slept.

The maid stirred Nermall up early in the morning.

— Father is calling you! — she said.

«Hello, son,» the usually serious Henry smiled. That smile didn’t bode well. — Nermall, there will be an execution today. The guards have caught another witch, and the Inquisition will carry out a show execution.

— Father, you know I can’t stand the sight of blood. I’m starting to feel nauseous.

— I insist on your presence. You have to grow up. Moreover, the Inquisitors have their own methods — they do not shed blood.

On the Square of Majesty stood two inquisitors in long black robes. And Lisa was standing there. Nermall almost rushed to the center of the circle designated by the crowd, but Henry held him by the sleeve.

— Look. There’s nothing you can do here!

Nermall stood there, unable to move. One of the anti-mages raised his hand up.

— Illigulus, spirit of Justice, evaluate the guilt of this woman. If she is a witch and uses illegal magic, punish her according to what she deserves.

Lightning flashed from above, and Lisa caught fire.

— I told you she was a witch!

Nermall lost consciousness at that moment. He opened his eyes already inside the castle.

— Father, why did you do this? You set it all up, right?

— How could I set up illegal magic?

— It’s all you! I know you found a way. Why, father? For what?

— For your own good. This witch is not your match. You know that you already have a fiancée.

— I don’t love her!

— No one forces you to love. If you don’t fall in love, you can look for love on the side. But you must marry her.

Henry drank and squandered almost his entire fortune at cards. When the time came to transfer the inheritance to his son, he found the simplest way to rehabilitate himself — he promised one of Beelzuvik’s Advisors a son, in exchange for a good monetary reward. But things didn’t go as planned. Nermall ran away from home that night. He jumped into the sea, wanting to end his life. But he was picked up by pirates. A few days later he returned to his father’s house. Nermall wanted to kill his father. But he found an old beggar who, having drunk, stretched out his hand to live another day. Fate punished his father, so Nermall spared the man.

But Lisa’s face sometimes appeared in his dreams. She smiled. And in the end she always died.

The old man closed his eyes.

— Nermall! — he heard a familiar voice.

Chapter 7. Prophet

As soon as the sun appeared on the horizon, Nermall was already pushing his comrades aside.

— Sleep well, sleepyheads! So sleep through life!

— Old man, you slept through your youth, give us a rest too! — Duncan muttered. But he got out of bed. Lewis and Still decided to take a walk around the village. The road is long, you won’t rest until evening. And as long as it’s not too hot, you can go for a walk.

— Okay, but you won’t be long! — said Nermall.

The young men walked along the narrow streets. The locals looked unfriendly at the strangers. They are dressed like a traveler, so few people recognize Still as a prince.

People were gathering in the square. A gray-haired man is tied with ropes to a post. The haystack under him is growing larger.

— What’s happened? — Still asked one of the passers-by. -What crime did he commit?

— Damn him! Calling for trouble again. We told him — throw away your books, but he is stubborn, no matter what! He writes and writes. These writers are nothing but trouble! It’s either a matter, I understand, a farmer, or, perhaps, a blacksmith. Well, at worst, a soldier — they are more useful than scribblers. They put letters into words that ordinary people cannot understand. The nobles read it, but the peasants will not end up in trouble.

— So what happened after all? Should we be executed for books? Is this a crime?

— Are you taught to read and write?

Still nodded. The stranger handed him a small volume covered in calligraphic handwriting.

— Here, take it, read it for yourself, and you’ll understand.

Still began to read.

***

«They are coming. Can you hear that rumble? It is their horses that trample our land. And the lights are not fireflies, there is nothing good about them. These are torches with which they will set fire to houses. This time they gathered a small detachment. They won’t burn the village to the ground. They will rape, several men will be killed — those who are the most obstinate, who do not want to watch how a stranger saddles his wives. This time they are going to collect tribute. They do not need other people’s lives, only bread and flocks. They know that you can’t take gold from the villagers. But they are patient. This time they won’t come for long. Then they will come again. And the third time they will burn the village to the ground.

Can you hear that crackling sound? It’s the branches breaking under their feet. They have no need to hide. They are not afraid. They know that the king does not care about the outskirts. The king will not send troops to protect us. He doesn’t care.

Do you see the lights of the torches? So you caught their first arrival. Then there will be another one. But know that you won’t survive their third visit. Run. They are coming!»

***

— And what didn’t you like about this story? Yes, he writes strange stories, but the writer shouldn’t be burned for it! — Steele was indignant.

— I didn’t like it that a week later a gang from Lorraine showed up!

Still and Lewis looked at each other.

— They came at dawn. Everyone has a torch in their hand. Aliens burned several of our houses. They killed Will the blacksmith and abused his daughter. The bandits stole our horses. This freak — he was always writing something. That’s why he’s a clerk! He took advantage of the fact that there are no more people among us who are trained to read and write. I bet he brought trouble to our village before. So yesterday they caught him writing. But this time nothing will work out for the damned Zeymond brat! We’ll burn it. Let the soul of Pisarev burn in the inferno until the end of the human race!

Still and Lewis were carried away by the stranger’s story that they did not notice how one of the peasants was already carrying a torch.

— Stop! You mustn’t kill him! — Still shouted.

— Stranger, do you want to take a place next to him? — said the one with the torch.

— Stop, immediately!

— Who are you, a tramp, to order the headman?

— My name is Stillom, and I am the crown prince of King Dinor! — Still raised his hand, and a gold ring glittered on it. Some of the peasants sank to the ground reverently. But the elder looked with an unkind look.

— Where were you, prince, when the gang attacked us? Return to Tivol. And we will find a way to protect ourselves!

«If you don’t understand normal words, we’ll talk in the language of weapons,» Still took out a sword, «Drop the torch immediately?»

The headman threw the torch into the very center of the haystack. It caught fire.

Lewis jumped up to the condemned writer. He cut the ropes and pushed the weakened man further away from the fire.

— Thank you! — he said and fell to the ground, completely exhausted.

Still and Lewis carried the man to the inn. People moved aside, not wanting to look at the writer.

«Serves him right,» they whispered. — Fate will give everyone what they deserve. We are all in her hands. Tenacious, freak! He probably wrote salvation in a book!

The innkeeper also looked disapprovingly when he saw the writer. But the rest are newcomers, they don’t care about internal squabbles.

Nermall went outside for a while. And a few minutes later he returned, holding a small pinch of an incomprehensible plant in his palm. He rubbed the flower between his fingers and brought it to the writer’s nose. He coughed and opened his eyes.

***

— My name is Murray. I was born here. Honestly, I would love to continue living, but will the locals really let me? My father was a chronicler, and he taught me to put words into coherent sentences. In his free time, he did nothing but write stories. Ideas seemed to fall on me from somewhere above. Sometimes in a dream something new will come, something that no mortal has ever seen. And then during the day they began to have visions. I wrote them down — I can’t keep them in my head! And then I began to notice that my ridiculous stories were not such a tall tale! Even the most unusual ones eventually came true, and in the most unexpected way.

— All writers are prophets, some to a greater extent, some to a lesser extent! Still said.

— Lately I have been having the same dream more and more often. Our village is attacked by a gang from Lorraine. Moreover, they come twice in small detachments. And the third time they march with a whole army towards Tivol. But along the way they burn our village too!

— Are you saying that Lorraine will attack Suthering? — Still whispered.

— I rarely make mistakes. War is almost inevitable!

— But an army from Morelia is coming towards us from the west. We will find ourselves between a rock and a hard place. We must get the book as quickly as possible. Otherwise, the enemies will trample us!

Nermall put a finger to his lips.

— Do you hear? — he took the sword out of its sheath.

— What should we hear?

A out of breath man ran into the tavern.

— Bandits! They attacked again!

The innkeeper hurried to bolt the door.

— Do not rush! — said Duncan. — We need to go out and take a walk in the fresh air!

— You should not! — the innkeeper shouted. — Be quieter. Otherwise, you will leave, and the bandits will rot us!

The soldier, seasoned in battle, just laughed.

***

The Lorraine people were accustomed to taking prey without resistance. Therefore, they came to their senses when three or four heads of the attackers rolled on the ground.

— We will leave no stone unturned in this village! — the gang leader shouted.

— We’ll see! — Still shouted louder. Steel hit steel. Nermall chopped down enemies left and right. Duncan did not lag behind him. Still and Lewis also killed their first enemies in their lives. Half an hour later the Lorraineers decided to retreat:

— We’ll get back to you. And then there will be no stone left on the village. Look! We will burn you to the ground!

Nermall raised his fist. He shouted triumphantly:

— HOORAY! Let them go!

«Perhaps we’ll stay one more night today,» Still said when they returned to the inn.

— Yes, sure! Today, drinks and food are paid for by the Gray Horse!

Still spoke to Murray:

— If you want, come with us. Our path is dangerous…

«It’s safer for me to go with you,» Murray interrupted him, «than to remain among these people who despise and fear me.»

— Perhaps you’re right!

Having had a hearty dinner, the friends went to bed. It’s a long road in the morning.

Chapter 8. Sands

In the morning, without waking up the innkeeper, the friends set off on the road.

***

It seems that there is no end or end to the sands in these parts. Then a small series of stones and low rocks, and again sand. The sun is high. I want to hide behind the mighty crown of some tree. But will cactus spines provide much shade? Even the smells faded away in the desert, except for the dry smell of sand. Still kept reaching for the flask. The other travelers also quickly became exhausted on this seemingly endless journey. Lewis and Nermall were more confident than the others. Lewis grew up in Lorraine and is no stranger to these terrains. And Nermall is generally difficult to surprise or scare with anything. Goosebumps appeared before my eyes every now and then. Therefore, it often seemed that there was a small grove in the distance.

— I would give half my life for five minutes in the shadows! — said Duncan.

«And a mug of cold water,» Still added.

«Or kvass,» said Kurt.

«You are weak,» Lewis smiled.

«I now understand why the Lorraineers constantly strive to attack us!» — Kurt said. — Is Lorraine’s entire land a huge desert? Will the sands run out soon?

«Then there will be less sand,» Lewis said. — Then the stones will come.

Kurt lit the cigarette.

— Aren’t you hot, friend? — said Duncan. — Why are you also warming yourself up from the inside?

The wind was blowing tumbleweeds. The horizon turned black. Nermall looked worriedly at the clouds that were approaching faster and faster. And then there was unexpected silence, as if someone had turned off the wind.

«Get off your horses,» said Nermall.

— What?

— No need for unnecessary questions. Now the storm is coming. Cover your head.

That is why trees did not coexist here. A sharp gust of wind seemed to be able to break even a centuries-old oak tree. The sand covered my head. A minute ago the bright sun was blinding, but now it’s dark, like a moonless night. Sand is everywhere. Open your eyes and you may remain blind until your death.

***

The regatta hung over the palantir. She whispered the words of an ancient spell and moved her hand through the air. But then she met someone’s magical resistance.

— Anilix! You! I’ll still kill them! — she said in an empty room. But the sorcerer heard her words in another part of the world. Silver entered the room.

— What are you doing, dear?

— Anilix! This damned sorcerer! He’s always on my way!

— Oh, you’re talking about this old man! «Silver barely touched the palantir, and the magical resistance instantly disappeared. Regatta began to cast the spell again, but Silver stopped her with a kiss.

— No need to touch them. Let them go.

— They are coming for weapons that can stop you. Silver, let’s kill them! Ask! I can’t stand it if they kill you. Let’s stop them before it’s too late!

— Among them is my brother.

— That’s it! Still! Who knows what he is capable of as a sorcerer? You are stronger than any living magician. But the same blood flows in him as in you. Maybe he will be your equal! — Regatta looked at her husband with hope in her eyes. But he shook his head:

— I don’t want them to die. To be honest, I don’t want deaths at all. But I will go to Tivol. I want to look my father in the eyes. And say how wrong he is. If he had not expelled me, I would not have had to resort to extreme measures for this.

Silver began to peer at the image inside the crystal ball. But it suddenly dissipated. He is the strongest of the sorcerers. But there is one spell that is not available to him. How many times has he looked into the witchcraft sphere! Any point in the world is accessible to him. But Silver was never able to see the faces of Still and Dinor. He forgot what his relatives looked like, and some unprecedented magic prevented him from remembering old faces. Silver cursed and threw the crystal ball to the floor.

***

It seems the storm has passed. Still dug himself out of the sand. Then he offered his hand to Lewis. Together they dug up Nermall. A few minutes later all the travelers were saved.

— Glory to the Creator! We weathered this storm,» Duncan said.

«I wouldn’t be so sure,» Lewis said.

— What are you talking about? — Kurt asked.

«It’s better for you not to know,» said Nermall. — After a storm they often come!

Kurt wanted to ask something else, but he was stopped by Murray’s heart-rending scream. Kurt looked back in the direction the writer indicated. A huge scorpion was walking towards them. The friends took out their swords.

«Don’t move,» Lewis said. — He may not notice us.

Scorpio stopped, looking for something. And then he trotted off in a different direction. But then Murray sneezed loudly. Scorpio turned around sharply and rushed towards the travelers.

Still barely dodged the huge sting. Each leg of the huge animal is as thick as the body of the skinny Nermall!

— Aim for the belly. Or to the place on the back where the monster’s tail begins! Lewis shouted. Still tried several times to mount the scorpion, but it shook the hunter off to the ground.

Scorpio suddenly fell. A huge spear protruded from his back. The travelers looked around. Behind stood the leader of the bandits who were attacking a village on the border with Lorraine.

— So you got caught! — he rubbed his hands.

— Don’t be in such a hurry, Jack! — said another bandit… or soldier, how do you distinguish between them? «They will be useful to the king for entertainment.» Let’s take them prisoner.

The friends resisted the attackers. But the travelers were exhausted after a long journey, so they could not give a worthy rebuff.

— Well, are you going to resist? If so, I will order my men to finish you off. Better put down your weapon voluntarily. From today you come into the favor of the King of Lorraine!

Chapter 9. Prisoners

Lush mansions in the middle of the desert. Unbearable heat and dry air. The prisoners, with their hands tied, their mouths gagged and bags on their heads, were brought into the king’s chamber.

— Your Majesty, here they are! — said Jack. — Probably spies. We caught them while walking around the lands.

Derr, King of Lorraine, ate grapes, spitting out the seeds and skins on a saucer. Two maids fanned him. For some time he showed no sign that he had heard what was said. And then he said:

— Into their pit. To the tigers.

Councilor Ezigurd approached Derr and whispered something in his ear. The king smiled:

— Oh yes, how could I not have thought of this myself! Esigurd speaks his mind. Still, I get better with age. Prisoners, I grant you forgiveness. Moreover, you have the honor of taking part in the competition for my son’s engagement!

The prisoners muttered.

— No need to thank me! Derr said. «I know, I’ve been overly kind lately.» Jack, take them in a kama… to the chambers of other applicants!

The bags were taken off them and the damned gags were taken out. The heat is unbearable, there is nothing to breathe. They even untied their hands. Only the prisoners were left without weapons — everything was taken away. Duncan immediately tried to rush at Jack, but the bars slammed in front of him. Then the man spat and hit the soldier right in the face. He wiped away the spit.

«We’ll meet again,» he said.

They looked around. There were mattresses on the floors, but there were clearly not enough places for everyone. There were about fifty people here, no less. Other prisoners looked disapprovingly at the new arrivals.

Everyone curses the villains, forgetting how much good they brought in between their vile deeds. Before the First Antimonian Empire, each settlement had its own language. But Antimonik burned out words other than the Common Speech. Old dialects remained in some places, but even commoners knew the Common Language, at least in general terms. Unless the inhabitants of the Unknown Continent and the newly developed Ddraigha may not understand you.

As the sun fell below the horizon, the guard brought food. This is unsalted porridge, a piece of stale bread and a glass of stagnant water for each prisoner. One of the prisoners approached Nermall:

— Old man, you still don’t have long to live. Give me your portion, and I won’t touch you! I need a lot of strength for tomorrow’s fight!

Duncan clenched his fists, but Nermall stopped him with a gesture. The old pirate was used to this kind of place, so he was not at a loss. He silently stood up, walked up to the bully and punched him in the gut. He twisted himself into a ram’s horn and fell.

— Will there be any other contenders for my portion? — Nermall looked around at those present. Everyone pretended to eat, not paying attention to what was happening. — Well, fine! Bon Appetit everyone!

The porridge is disgusting, to put it in decent words. But after a hungry day, even Still, accustomed to luxurious dinners, ate it like a heavenly dish.

When it got dark, we decided to talk about this and that. But one of the prisoners said:

— Guys, have a conscience! There’s a battle tomorrow morning, but you won’t let me sleep!

The guards played dice behind the doors, laughing loudly and chatting, but this did not prevent the unwitting guests of the inhospitable Lorraine from falling asleep.

Chapter 10. Arena

The sun had not yet had time to heat the sand, but the stands were filled with people. When Derr appeared, the crowd cheered.

— Hello, friends! — said the king. — I think you know perfectly well why we have gathered today! Yesterday the long-awaited engagement of Prince Manstead to the Morellian Princess Lydia took place.

— Where is the prince himself? — someone shouted from the crowd. Oh, if Derr knew everything about his son!

— He will be later. As expected, extraordinary Games are being held in honor of my son! The first stage is declared open!

The crowd applauded and screamed, in anticipation of blood and other people’s pain. Behind someone else’s suffering, one’s own is not felt so keenly.

«As you know, gentlemen,» said the king’s dwarf assistant, «in the first round, our dear guests,» the host smiled wryly at the last word, and the crowd laughed in unison, «will meet the best fighters.» Guards, lead the first participant!

The first «volunteer» had to be pushed into the middle of the arena. He grabbed the bars of the bars, but the muscular guard was stronger. The crowd applauded.

— And he will come out against him… Who do you think could be the opponent of this brave fighter? — the audience laughed. — We can’t insult guests by offering them weaklings to fight?! So who is this man?

— Scull? — was heard from the podium. Derr smiled mysteriously. Watching the dwarf presenter.

— Will there be any other options? — asked the dwarf.

— Squall?

— It’s hot. But not him.

— Is it really Bonecrusher?

— Exactly! — said the presenter.

— Bonecrusher! — the crowd chanted. — Bonecrusher! Bonecrusher! Hooray! Bonecrusher!

A huge muscleman came out, over two meters tall, with a bull skull on his head with huge horns. He raised his mace-free hand up.

— Bonecrusher! Bonecrusher! Bonecrusher!

The prisoner was not even given a weapon. The giant threw a ball, tied at one end to his hand, covered with spikes, and hit him in the chest. Scarlet blood flowed. The «volunteer» groaned in pain. The crowd cheered louder. Bonecrusher hit him again, this time with his fist in the head. The poor guy fell on the sand. The dwarf turned over the hourglass and began to scrupulously count the grains of sand. When the last one falls, the prisoner’s fate is sealed. We are all in her hands. But the fighter did not give up. He tried to get up, but was hit by another blow from the Bonecrusher. When the last grain of sand fell, the dwarf looked at Derr. There are two pictures above the royal box. One depicts a smiling man, the other a hanged man. The king pointed to the one on the right, and the leader turned the long arrow towards the doomed man. Derr nodded in agreement. Bonecrusher lowered his mace onto the prisoner’s head.

— Bonecrusher! Bonecrusher!

— What kind of savages? — Still asked, watching the fight from behind bars, «We ended with these wild customs about five hundred years ago!»

«People always remain beasts,» said Nermall, «Even if they play at being noble.» Once hypocrisy is removed, the animals come out.

— But are these people? Herd!

— This is true. It doesn’t hurt me to talk about this.

— Nermall, we’re not like that, are we? I hope we don’t end up like beasts?

The former pirate remained silent. He’s already done it, and not just once. But there was something human left in him. What forced me to pull myself together and return to human form. But Nermall guessed how these kinds of fights usually ended. But Stilla did not want to upset him ahead of time.

— Bring another one! — Bonecrusher growled in a broken voice.

— Guards? — the dwarf squeaked.

They brought out another prisoner. This one was more courageous than the previous one. He raised both hands up, copying the Bonecrusher gesture. The crowd applauded.

Bonecrusher threw a spiked ball, but the fighter dodged. He ran around the hulking thug from behind. Pouncing from behind, he bit her ear. Everyone was silent, waiting for how this bloody race would end.

Bonecrusher hit the impudent man on the head with his mace as hard as he could. The guy swayed and fell on the sand. Derr pointed to a picture of a hanged man, thereby sealing the fate of the loser.

— Next! — Bonecrusher shouted.

This time the lot fell on Nermall.

— Teacher, you are… Be careful.

— We are all in the hands of Fate. If you are ordered to die, you cannot escape death. And I’m lucky in this regard — I’ve already stayed alive forty times, you see, and this time fortune is on my side!

The audience laughed — it seemed that the fate of this prisoner was predetermined. Bonecrusher has twisted other people into a ram’s horn!

But it was not there! The old pirate met larger enemies, and in greater numbers.

— What, the bull’s skull put on its own face, I suppose? And the horns are adorable! How often do you leave your wifey at home? «Bonebreaker roared, his knuckles turning blue with anger. — I know, often. I have two news for you. Good: your wife is doing great. And the bad one is about the horns.

The flexible Nermall easily dodged the flying ball. With unprecedented agility for his age, he ran behind the big man. Nermall threw a stone and hit the thug in the ass. He roared even louder. He is clumsy, so while the big man was turning around, Nermall again found himself behind him.

— That’s right, not «Bonebreaker», but «Cuckold»

— I’ll get you, you old asshole!

— Or «Unicorn»? although there are two horns. Still, «Bull» would be a better fit.

— I love you!

They circled like this for a quarter of an hour. The bonebreaker triggered an invisible mechanism, and several spikes flew out of the mace. One of them hit Nermall in the leg.

— Now you won’t be so fast!

The big man was spinning his mace. Nermall, meanwhile, bent down to take the spike out of his leg.

— And you and your wife can only use a mace? I’m not surprised that she cuckolds you. Look, the longer you stay here, the longer the horns will grow!

— Yes, I can see you without a mace! I’ll get it with my bare hands! I’ll strangle you!

The crowd screamed. Bonecrusher dropped his mace onto the sand and walked towards Nermall, clenching his fists. Nermall plunged a spike into Bonecrusher’s leg. Crawling, he reached the mace. The big man barely had time to come to his senses when the mace hit him. He fell on the sand. Nermall stood on his back. The dwarf immediately turned over the hourglass.

— Bonecrusher! — lonely voices are heard from the crowd. The others shout:

— Old man!

The crowd loves the heroes while they’re on the horse. It’s better not to trust the smiles of fans, they sometimes betray. When the last grain of sand fell, the king pointed to the hanged man. But Nermall dropped his mace and hands. The dwarf whispered:

— Come on, kill him!

— Kill! — shouted from the crowd. — Kill! Kill!

Nermall shook his head.

Derr stood up from the throne and said:

— What’s your name, hero?

— They called me different things. For example, Nermall, Storm of the Seas!

— Oh, that same pirate! I know I know. In our area they called you Pain in the Ass. But this does not change the essence. You will earn forgiveness for all your misdeeds if you emerge victorious in the Tournament. Kill Bonecrusher, he doesn’t deserve to live.

— And you don’t deserve his death!

Silence reigned in the stands. The dwarf whispered in the king’s ear:

— Order him to be killed for this insolence?

— Not yet. Today he is the hero of this herd,» Derr whispered. Then he said loudly, for everyone. «Well, noble warrior, I offer you a reward for your generosity.» And what could be a better reward than another battle? Enter the Skulls!

— Scull! Scull! Scull! — shouted from the crowd. A frail, short black man came out, his face painted with the image of a skull. He is nimble, but Nermall only needs one blow with his mace — and the Skull falls to the sand. And then the old man threw away the mace again and smiled. Derr stood up from the throne and walked away from the podium. And the crowd shouted:

— Nermall! Nermall!

Today the old man is their hero.

The dwarf said:

— Well, Nermall turned out to be a good-natured person, he forgave two innocent souls. Guards, take them to the chambers of the participants in the competition. They are no longer heroes, let them fight equally with others for the right to live. I don’t think they’ll find a better way to manage their lives. The first round of the Competition is declared closed.

***

— Nermall, you did great! — friends patted the old man on the shoulder. And the rest of the prisoners gathered around him. The bonebreaker threw the bull’s skull onto the floor. His face is disfigured with scars and burns.

— Why didn’t you kill me?

— Should you?

— The king will now do everything possible to bring you to the next world.

— I do not submit to the will of kings. — Nermall glanced sideways at Still. — Except one.

«Thank you,» Bonecrusher extended his hand.

— Sorry, if anything happens, for the horns and all that.

— Nonsense. Guys, only one should survive. Such rules have not yet been made exceptions. I am the winner of the past Games. The Skull won the year before. Worms await us in the second round.

— What kind of worms? — Duncan interrupted.

— Giant worms tamed by desert magicians. If they could move not only on sand, then the whole world would belong to Lorraine. And so the worms protect the slaves. Why do you think slavery still exists here?

— What about the third round? — Lewis asked.

— In the third round, the surviving prisoners fight among themselves. Only one remains alive. There were cases when fighters became friends and refused to kill a damaged comrade. Then both died.

— But we must all survive! Still said.

— Fate grant, we are all in her hands and we trust in her.

— Let’s get out! And this was not the way out at the last moment! — said Nermall.

— Damned Morellian princess! Because of her wedding, these damn Games!

— What? — exclaimed Still. — Why, Suthering will be between Morelia and Lorraine, like between a rock and a hard place! We must not allow this!

Nermall began to sing an old pirate song, and several men joined in:

Yo-ho-ho! We are not afraid of the dead

We love mermaids, we are bottomlessly drunk.

We will be hanged — we will be finished!

But while we are alive, you are doomed!

Don’t hide your fins from me,

We are pirates, we are good people,

I am not a coward, not a villain, not an executioner.

There are no women — so a mermaid will do!

Yo-ho-ho, the bottomless expanse sleeps,

We know no peace, only rum and robbery,

We don’t want to die here

Have fun, friends, our motto is simple!

Yo-ho-ho, I’m dreaming of the blue distance,

We’re burning bridges and our pockets are empty

But I don’t feel sorry for the past at all,

Gallows or bonfires await us!

— Okay, guys, let’s go to bed. Tomorrow we have a hard day ahead of us.

Chapter 11. Worm

Still woke up from unbearable pain. Dawn. The guards woke up the slaves with lashes. A little more and it will crack. He will shout that he is the crown prince, I can’t treat him like that.

And then what? Will Derr go to his father to apologize? What nonsense. Instead of this cell, where he spends the night with his faithful comrades, he will be put in a golden cage. Friends will die. Maybe Duncan will stay, or Nermall. But others will not survive the arena. And Derr will exchange his own life for something very expensive. Maybe even Tivol’s crown.

«No, Still, you shouldn’t think like that. Be stronger. Not long left. We are all in the hands of Fate, and we trust in it. If you think about it, death isn’t that scary. Do you remember the fairy tales that your grandmother read to you at night? In them, good always triumphed over evil.»

But things didn’t get any calmer. «Life is not a fairy tale,» whispered a second voice, somewhere in the depths of my soul.

They brought food. Still endured the tasteless mess without pleasure. «We don’t even feed pigs like this,» he thought. The prince is unaware that for some Sutheringians such dinner was the main dish. On holidays, the poor prepared the same porridge, but fresher. «You wanted to know how ordinary people live!»

Bonecrusher snatched the bowl from Nermall’s hands.

— Better take mine.

Nermall raised an eyebrow.

— Do you think the king has forgiven you for your freedom yesterday? — Bonecrusher asked. — I don’t think so. Most likely, your portion contains poison or sleeping pills.

— But why do you want to eat it?

— I owe you my life. Moreover, I’m not hungry. I don’t like to eat in the morning.

And then they were taken to the arena. Still found himself in the fresh air for the first time. He spent the last two days in a sweat-smelling, stuffy cell.

There were stakes on the ground. Everyone took one.

«Remember,» said Bonecrusher, «worms have one vulnerable spot — their belly.» Aiming at the back, head or anywhere else is useless. Hit the belly and the creature is dead.

— Ladies and Gentlemen! — shouted the dwarf presenter. — The second round of the Games has begun!

The crowd applauded. Derr sat silently on the throne and did not take his eyes off Nermall. Then he glanced at the other slaves. When his gaze fell on Lewis, he almost jumped in surprise. His son had disappeared years ago, and he believed Lewis to be dead. And he is here, nearby, among the slaves! He reached for the eyepiece to get a better look at what was happening. This short glance is enough for Councilor Ezigurd. He didn’t need an eyepiece to see the face of the king’s illegitimate son. There was another person in the crowd of spectators who, without magnification, would have recognized the bastard at any distance. This is Carewyn’s stepfather. He beat Lewis’s mother when she gave birth to someone else’s child. And Lewis himself often had to hide in the desert or on the streets of the city so as not to fall under the hot hand of a drunkard.

— Let’s greet the desert sorcerer, the snake and worm charmer. Advisor Ezigurd!

The advisor whispered words in an unfamiliar language. Four black ribbons appeared from his hands and rushed deep into the sand. He pulled the ribbons towards himself, as if using them to urge horses. First the head of a monster appeared from under the sand, and then the worm blocked out the sunlight. The monster looks more like a dragon without wings. The same elongated head with a crown of spikes and scaly skin, the same fanged mouth. The monster roared and lowered its snout, killing two prisoners at once. One of them turned out to be Skull. Esigurd concentrated all his strength so that the worm would not inadvertently attack Lewis. The Bastard could be useful in his political plans. The worm looked around. The prisoners ran here and there to avoid being eaten. However, Bonecrusher was dizzy and seeing double. Well, Nermall beat him yesterday. Or is there poison in the food? And the worm was just waiting for that. Nermall said:

— Duncan, you have always been better than others in using a spear. Can you handle the stakes?

— I think yes.

— We will distract him, and you hit him right at the pink spot on his stomach!

— Fine!

Everyone except Duncan gathered in one place. The monster began to lower its head. It suddenly seemed to Nermall that Lisa was standing next to him. Lately he had often seen this, and not always in his dreams. She beckoned him along:

— Come with me, Nermall. There is silence and eternal peace. You deserve it!

«Lisa,» the old man whispered. Still managed to push the teacher onto the sand, and the worm’s mouth closed in the air. The monster began to rise, and then Duncan drove the stake. The worm roared and fell onto the sand.

The crowd applauded. Victory! But why is there such devastation in my soul? Still counted the survivors and fifty people entered the arena. And now twenty, or even less.

Lewis clenched his fists. This city has always been the most inhospitable place for him. He will survive. And he will burn it to the ground, and then scatter the stones so that there will be no memory of this damned place. And he will give his father to be eaten by a worm. Together with a nasty dwarf who, smiling, made a speech:

— The second round of the Games is over. The final round awaits us tomorrow!

***

Lewis was woken up in the middle of the night and taken away somewhere. In the corridor the air is not half as musty as in the cell. The guard brought the guy to Derr’s chambers.

— Hello, son. Long time no see.

Lewis was silent.

— I buried you a long time ago. I didn’t know you’d be here! In slavery!

— You’re a beast. How can I be the son of a monster? Tomorrow they will force us to kill each other!

— You don’t have to kill. I’ll let you go.

— Am I left to watch my friends die? No thanks! I’d rather die next to them!

— I can’t stop the games! How can you not understand! I sit on the throne, wear the crown, but I have no power for a long time! I didn’t even notice how power passed to Manstead. He killed Reeve and San. He killed both younger brothers! I would be dead too if he considered me competition. And you won’t survive if he finds out about you. I can’t stand another death of a loved one. I raised a monster!

Derr managed to forget that he himself, on the way to the crown, killed six princes. Everything gets paid sooner or later. The later, the more expensive the gifts of Fate are.

«You need to run urgently,» Derr said.

— I won’t go without friends. Take me to the cell.

— Jack! — Derr shouted louder. The guard entered. «Release the prisoners whom this slave points out.» They are now free.

«I received no orders from Prince Manstead.

«From Prince Manstead, then…» Derr whispered, lowering his eyes. And then he took a dagger from his sleeve and cut the soldier’s throat. Then he handed a bunch of keys to his son.

— Thank you, pa.

— Good luck, son. Take care of yourself.

— Will.

After some time, Manstead entered Derr’s chambers, accompanied by Carewyn, Lewis’s stepfather.

— Where is he! — the prince looked under the bed, then opened the closet. — Tell me, where?

— If i knew.

Manstead looked at the soldier’s corpse and struck his father on the cheek.

«If you do that again, I’ll strangle you.» I promise I will do so! Chasing them, immediately! Bring me Lewis’s head!

Chapter 12. The path to Silerin

The prisoners headed towards the stables. They moved along the incense-scented corridors. But the burned aromatic substances did not completely destroy the stench. There was one torch for everyone, it was carried by Lewis. Therefore, the fugitives had to stay close together. Every rustle made you turn around: what if there was a chase? Or has Derr changed his mind?

— We should take back the armor and weapons that were taken from us! — said Duncan.

— I’ll show you where the storage is! — said one of the slaves, who is not from the Tivolian detachment. As expected, the guard was snoring peacefully. Kurt clapped his hand over his mouth. The soldier twitched. But he quickly broke his neck.

— For what? — asked Still. «You could have just turned it off!»