Amazing world of dreams...
I got off the couch, enchanted to see him. Then I turned to the men. And I frowned.
Lord Darrell looked at me a little embarrassed.
- Chickenpox," he began cautiously, "you've already realised that our world... isn't quite as it seems to the people of the Northern Kingdom?
- I guessed it," I burst out.
- It's Eloar, the capital of the Rainbow Kingdom," the man gestured with a broad gesture as he circled the space around us.
- How did we get here?
- We were transported by the Arch'arrion. I spent a little strength... creating a phantom for you and healing Kairos... and in general... such as we are hard to find far from the Source of Power.
- Okay, um... - I said firmly, let's go from the beginning, Lord Darrell! Are you human?
- Yes, I am. And a magician.
- And... the Arch'arrion?
The demon shook his head and smiled.
- I belong to a race of higher demons. Humans aren't the most numerous and certainly not the most important part of the underworld. Our territories are divided into kingdoms, the largest of which are Chaos and the Rainbow Empire. And they are inhabited by different races, reasonable and... not very much. But almost all of us have some kind of power, Magic. The most important thing for all of us is the Sources of Power that feeds our abilities, yes, and life.
- It's... unbelievable," I said amazingly. So the old fairy tales of fairytale creatures, demons, ghoulaks and elves aren't they? They all exist?
Men laughed.
- They do exist, Vetriana. But if you meet a vampire, save you the Force, call him a ghoulouse! They get hurt...
- What about the Northern Kingdom? We don't have anything like that! No magic and no miracles.
Well, almost none.
- It's a long story," said Lord Darrell, leaning upon the Arch'arrion. I stared at him in anticipation, and when I breathed in, the Lord began.
- For centuries, the underworld has been shaken by bloody wars. The Rainbow Empire and Chaos came together over and over again in terrible battles, and not one side could not win. Our world was filled with blood... These were times of death and destruction... The only territories where no battles were fought were the lands of the Northern Kingdom.
- Why not?
- Because of the line. You call it the Blacklands. The territories of the Northern Kingdom are separated from the rest of the world by the Devil. Not only does this space have no magic, it sucks it out of all life, but at the same time, its life force. The Devil has always been, our historians are still arguing about where it came from and what its nature is. The line can be crossed, but it is very hard and few managed. People die there very quickly. It is almost impossible to resist the line for a long time, only the highest archimon can do it. But even they are weakening very fast. That's why the Citadel of Death is located in the Devil, the scariest prison for the dark.
- Why are they called the Dark ones?
- All creatures have an aura, their own source of power and life. Some magicians, like me, are able to discern this aura. Demons, and all creatures of Chaos, have a dark aura, almost black. That's their Power and their Sources. The people of the eastern territories have a light, colored, Rainbow Empire. Dark and light have always been in opposition, only after the Great War was established fragile peace, balance.
- And here, on the territory of the Northern Kingdom? Did people live here?
The Lord was silent.
- The people... yes. But not quite. We called them the Elementals, they called themselves the Khitans. They were humans, but they possessed natural magic and power. The Khits lived in a very isolated, very small community. They worshipped nature, lived at the expense of their own natural economy and, fortunately, for the magical world they were absolutely, categorically not militant. We know little about them, because these people did not do anything with the outside world and never left their forests. The Devil's Department made them almost invulnerable.
- Why do you say "were"? What happened to them?
- The scheming community was completely destroyed 600 years ago. Cut out everyone, women, old people, children, men... there was no one left.
- But why? - Well, I'm sorry.
- Because the source of their power was here. Sources are the most important thing for magical creatures. That's what fuels magical powers and vitality. Around the Sources are our worlds. Possession of the Source is power, the Vetriana. Those who attacked the Schemiths believed that by capturing their Source, they would also possess the abilities of these people. The dark demon Saarkhard, ruler of Chaos and priestess of his Moon Temple, Alir, the strongest Magician, were able to cross the Line and led a detachment of mercenaries through it. The power of the Schemiths would have given Saarkhard a significant advantage in the war against the Rainbow World, allowing him to win. They broke into the elemental settlement at dawn as the people slept peacefully.
- How horrible... and then what? Were they able to capture the Source?
- No. One of the women, dying, managed to seal the Source and close the magic vein. How she did it, a mystery. Neither before nor after... The Source, an artifact so strong that it's not influenced by Earth creatures. We can neither close the existing source nor open a new one. We can only draw strength from it, but we cannot influence the Source itself. When the Source of the Elementals was closed, Saarhardh burned the entire settlement to the ground in a rage, without mercy.
The Lord was silent, as if I had seen that terrible massacre at dawn with my own eyes.
- The destruction of the Scheats was a turning point in the history of the Great War. The disappearance of any Source can be felt by all creatures with magic. And the death of the Source of the Scheats has been felt by everyone in the underworld. For magical creatures it's like suicide, it's unacceptable. Saharkhardt was forced to go on the run. A detachment of the Bright, led by the Ruler of the Good World, caught up with Sarhkhardt and the priestess on the approach to the Three Toothed Rocks, they were almost able to cross the Line again, having lost all their people and exhausted the magical resource to a drop. Had the Source of the Elementals not been closed, the Dark One could have recovered and become even stronger, but this did not happen. Saarhard was captured and imprisoned in the Death Citadel. His beloved priestess of the Moon Temple died in the black sands of Devil.
- And then what happened?
The Lord shrugged his shoulders.
- Then these lands were inhabited by men. They'd been there before, just like everywhere else in the underworld. There was no Source of Power anymore, so these territories are not interesting or even dangerous to magicians. It's a long way away from magical lives, we can't. There is no magic background in the Northern Kingdom, it is possible to use magic there, but it is more difficult, moreover, if we waste the magic reserve without the ability to quickly compensate for it, we will die. Sometimes people give birth to children with magical powers and when they wake up, such a child instinctively seeks the Source. Along the perimeter of the Northern Kingdom are enchanted portals with a fraction of the magic of the Source. The child - magician feels it and goes, entering the portal it is simply transferred to the Rainbow World and enters one of the magical schools. Portals are few and for mass use they are not suitable, and walking through the Desire Line is not.
I jumped in a chair.
- Call!!!! It's the Call! So the children just feel the power of the source and go to it?
- Well, yeah.
- Well, yeah?? - I choked to death from outrage, it's just, isn't it??? Do you have any idea what these kids are going through? What about their parents? They become outcasts, they're persecuted, they're burned on fire!!! Those who hear the Call are considered accomplices to the damned sorcerers!! And you say "yeah"???????? And their parents?! Their children are believed to go to the Black Earth, and their parents can't even mourn them! And all life hides their departure! Have you thought about that, magicians?
>
- Why are you shouting? Who knew that everyone in your kingdom was so perverted? By the way, your rulers are well aware of the true state of affairs, just manage the people, with the help of your faith is much easier! King of the Northern Kingdom of Amaron and himself graduated from one of their magical schools.
- Our king is a magician??? - I didn't believe it.
- Not very strong... but his tricks with the convergence of the Divine Fire and other tricks are good!
I had an outrageous snort. And I remembered:
- But if there are portals, why couldn't demons just pass the Line before?
The Lord looked at me condescendingly.
- A portal is a door through space, both ways. And the scheets, for their part, put a barn lock on that door! The portals to the northern kingdom just didn't work. Only a creature with magical powers and mind can pass through such a door. Therefore, it is inaccessible to ordinary people on this side and unreasonable, though magical, creatures.
I've been thinking about it.
- I heard the Call, too... so I have magical powers, too?
The men have looked over.
- Of course, haven't you figured that out yet? - Lord Darrell answered. I sagged the silent Arch'arrion. He turned to the window with a bored view, looking at the landscape.
- When we were riding Kairos and I pissed you off," the demon frowned at the Lord, he hummed, "you hit me with a force wave. I wonder how you explained that to yourself?
- I... thought you had slipped," I mumbled confusedly, trying not to look at men, and tried to change the subject. - Why did you come to Riverstein, anyway?
The Lord was silent. He took a look at the Arch'Arrion. Those silent looks were already making me nervous. The demon answered. I even shuddered at his voice.
- Strange things are happening to you. There's a movement signal coming in from the portals, but no one's coming in from this side. So a child from the Northern Kingdom comes at the call, enters the portal, and then... disappears. More oddly, the ghosts have activated. I had to calm down a dozen spirits, somebody opened the transition to them, but I couldn't trace the necromancer. And so did the spell itself - I had my eyes down - but all the little things... most importantly, it seems the Source is awakening in Riverstein.
- The Source? Closed over six hundred years ago? - That's me.
- Yeah. The shields probably couldn't seal it forever, nature takes its course. Or... someone's doing everything they can to keep the Source awake.
- Is that possible?
- Theoretically, yes... practically... it's never happened before.
- Well, what does it take to do that? To get it to wake up?
The Arch'arrion was silent and looked at me at point-blank range.
- We need victims. Many victims...
Lord Darrell shook his head and said hoarsely.
- I was able to track the souls of two dozen victims. All children with magical powers. I couldn't take it any further. Immerse myself in a world of shadows so deep without being able to replenish my reserve, I couldn't.
I was terrified to move my gaze from one man to another. Lord Darrell took his eyes away, the demon looked point-blank, dark, expressing nothing.
- Wait a minute," I said, "a little bit of a hunch... do you think I did it?? Killed all these children???
And I froze, trying to hold back tears of resentment. How could he... think that... I... just don't cry!
Suddenly, the Arch'arrion squatted at me and looked up.
- You mustn't be offended," he said softly, "there are many strange things going on, and the fact that you've got Arghard... I can't explain it. Especially since you're obviously hiding something.
- You'd think you were completely honest with me! - I couldn't help it and I added complaining - I didn't kill anyone!
On the contrary, I brought someone back to life, and I overdid it a bit... but I can't imagine how I did it. And I'm not going to tell you about it.
- Isn't it just a coincidence that your Argard got to me? I accidentally ripped him off your neck, just scared.
The demon shook his head.
- That's impossible. We can't see the artifact. We can't even touch it. And not only did you see it, but you were able to take it... and even initiate it.
- I don't know how that happened! But I didn't kill those children... - I said sadly.
- Now I know you didn't do it.
- How did you do that? - frowning, I said.
- In the Black Earths, I gave you a piece of my essence. It was necessary to do it, or Argard would have sucked your life out in a few days. Now you have my blood in you and I... can feel it. And you. Even if you were the strongest wizard in the underworld, you couldn't fool the blood. Murders are stamped with an eternal mark, you can't hide it. So I know for a fact that you didn't kill.
- But you're not sure I have no accomplices," I said sadly. The men have discreetly kept silent. Then the demon smiled.
- Let's proceed from the fact that it's probably not you.
I snorted a demonstrative snort.
- It wasn't you, Rion," Lord Darrell said meaningfully, "looking at the Arch'arrion," Arghard was still your birth artifact.
- Then it's not you! - You're the only magician in Riverstein now," said the demon with a smile. And in fact... Riverstein is your castle!
- It's an excellent company," I concluded, "and everyone suspects everyone. Wait, what do you mean, Riverstein is his?
- Yes, it is. This is Lord Darrell's ancestral castle. Haven't you noticed that he's suspiciously well versed in it?
- Why don't you live in it? - I was puzzled to ask, oh yes... no Source... but you did once live in Riverstein! I've read in the chronicles of the balls and receptions you've arranged... Wait, but that was almost fifty years ago! And you look quite... I mean... you can't be eighty years old! - I'm completely confused.
- Why not? - the Lord smirked slyly, - maybe eighty, or maybe... and more! Magicians live much longer than ordinary people, Vetryana. And they're quite well preserved!
Oh, heaven!
I suspiciously leaned on a demon, hesitant to ask how old he is. The Arch'arrion shook his head with a little smile.
- And don't ask," the Lord said, "I'm afraid Rion doesn't remember this terrible figure anymore! The Archidemons are resilient... They can only be killed by depriving the Source of its power completely, one drop at a time, and without being able to replenish the Source's reserve within a couple of hours. - Is it just me, or did he say it with regret?
Judging by the malevolent grin of the demon, it didn't seem like it. Yeah, a lot of love between those two, and it doesn't smell. It was more of a stink of hostility. Especially from Lord Darrell. I wonder why.
But that's not what matters now.
- The children are still disappearing in the Riversteyn and the villages," I said quietly, "and they're being held in some basement and then... killed with a thin bone blade.
- How do you know that? - The men have slipped up. I took some air and told them everything I knew, everything Danila had told me.
- The boy definitely has the gift of universe..." Lord Darrell thoughtfully extended, "I'll talk to him. I'll try to put him in a trance, see if he can see with my help who's doing it. And the children are probably moving out of the portals, someone's reconfigured the Way. Describe the blade used to perform the ritual.
- Danila said it's light, like bone, with vine or flowers engraved. The base is milky-colored stone.
- Night guest! - Lord Darrell exhaled and turned pale.
- Night's guest? - I was wondering, is that a blade? Why is it called that?
The Arch'arrion answered me. Spider rushed to his desk, piled with paper, and began to look for something fiercely there.
- "Night Guest" creates probabilities. Imagine the night and the city that a traveller passes by," he began to explain, seeing my misunderstanding, "there are a hundred houses in this city, but the traveller only chooses one to stay t
he night. His choice of this particular house can create any of the chances that will affect the fate of every resident of this city or even the entire underworld. Perhaps his stay in someone's house will prevent a drunken fight and the one who should have died will stay alive. Or vice versa, he will provoke this fight and the one who should have protected the city from the invasion of the undead will die. Perhaps he will seduce the master's daughter and give birth to a child who will become a great ruler... or overthrow the great ruler and become a tyrant... Understand? A guest of the night chooses one out of a hundred chances, goes into only one house.
- So it's an artifact?
- Yes, but unusual. It's made of a white unicorn horn and it doesn't contain the power of the Source itself, which means it has no magical background and can't be traced. But with a certain ritual... yes, killing a magical child, you can feed the Guest with an awakened Power and create one of the probabilities. Even the most unbelievable!
- For example, - I said slowly - to show the stupid human girl Argard... no doubt that then she will put it on her finger.
The Arch'arrion was silent, thinking tensely, Sider looked at us, threw paper at the table in his heart, and a fan flew them across the room.
- But why?
- Most likely, whoever's doing this needs the properties of Aargard.
- Which ones?
- If I'd known! It's possible that someone is planning to take it over, and is acting with the hands of others... the hands of the Vetters. Because Arghard kills his host.
- Am I dying? - I asked calmly. I can see now where these attacks of obscure weakness...
- Don't worry, we'll figure out how to get it off," Shider said quickly, "but in the meantime we think the blood of the higher demon will support you. - and turned to the Arch'arrion," so with the ritual murders of the Night Guest, that someone created the probability he needed?
- It would appear so.
- We've got to get the Vetriana out of Riverstein! Let's leave it here, and that somebody can't get to it!
I already wanted to object outrageously, but the demon got ahead of me.
The Wind of the North Page 15