Читать книгу: «Elven heritage», страница 2

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.