- Where did he go, joker? - Shocking with a stick, Xenia was outraged.
We looked at the lord in a confused way. Her friend just remembered that she had been ordered to stay out of the way, and she had already fallen asleep preparing to snap at him. But Shyder was surprised.
- Well done... both," he said sincerely. I sighed a sigh of relief, and Xenia shrieked with pleasure. - The first time wasn't bad. But there are many things but..." immediately upset the Lord. - first of all, as you understood, it's not a real eater, but only his phantom, though of very high quality... the real screams five times stronger. So you have to react faster, preferably not to let him open his mouth at all. Chickenpox, I understand you're the easiest to hit with an air wave, and in general, air seems to be your element. Xenya... even though you disobeyed an order... well done too. You'd make a great defender, reactions and speed are excellent.
My friend nodded quietly, but I could see how pleased she was with the freckles that burned.
- What do you need warrior defenders for?
- Usually to protect magicians," the Lord smiled, "and since you've been together since you were a child, the coherence of your actions can produce excellent results.
We smiled gladly at each other when we looked at each other.
- Lord Darrell, could you get me a book of some kind? - I asked, uh, about the history of the underworld and the creatures that inhabit it? Still, I don't know anything at all. It's as if we grew up in a cave, and now we're out of it, and there's such a huge and unknown world around...
- I'll get it," agreed Shaider, "and I'll glamour it so that no one but you... and Xenia can read it. Now get ready, class is over for today.
Talking and discussing our acquaintance with the eater, we went to the edge of the clearing. Already turning to the lake, I couldn't help but turn around, glancing through the shadows along the spruce tree. But I didn't see anybody.
* * *
The Lord did not bring one book, but five whole books. As Ksenia snorted, "let the preacher into the wine cellar", i.e. Vetryan's book mouse broke to his favorite pastime - reading! I really looked at the coveted folios with such a hidden delight and adoration, with which, perhaps, a mother looks at a newborn child. Well, I love books!
And what were those books! Thick, finely smelled parchment and sharp knowledge, with intricate monograms and colorful pictures. Above one of them, even Xenia froze and long, focused. A girl in a short silver ring, leather pants and high boots was depicted there. An arc of crossbow looked out from behind her back, dark hair woven into bizarre pigtails with sharp metal spikes at the ends. In her right hand, a dark narrow blade, the left, like a branch of twigs, braided symbols, hiding in sleeves and looking out at her neck, and the look - calm, confident, a little mocking, looking at us from the page of the book.
- The guardian warrior Salira Stravskaya," Xenia slowly read the inscription under the image, "is a legendary Great Warrior and supreme guard of the Lord of the Rainbow Empire.
The following was a brief biography of the warrior, and as Xenia, who could not bear the letters, deepened her reading, sometimes taking a wandering look and looking at the room, I realized that my friend had a role model.
In class, we sat like a baton warmed up. We looked bewilderedly at the bowed heads of the novices, at the tedious teachings of the saintly elders, at the businesslike Mrs. Bronegoda, who walked between them, at the familiar walls of the apprentice's room, and at the tables and benches. It is not so easy to get used to the fact that everything that we have been taught for many years, all our milestones and foundations, is just an empty sound, worthless, useless emptiness for nobody. Yes, we were not zealous servants of the Order, we had simple girl's desires and aspirations: to eat well, to sleep longer, to dodge Harpy, to turn away from classes ... and in the future, to serve in a quiet town nearby, to have a stable, though very modest income and respect of villagers. It was not a joyful fate, but a familiar one, understandable to us.
And how to accept that all that we believed in, all that we considered real is an illusion. The Northern Kingdom, which seemed to us endless and vast, was only a small spot in the vast areas of the Underworld, a blotch on the map in two turns.
And this world was a stranger to us, and we were strangers in it. And because, as beautiful as it was, it was still frightening with the unknown.
I met Xenia with my eyes, who smiled encouragingly at me. A friend in life has two mottoes: "Less thinking, more business" and "we'll get to the place, on the spot and sort it out", and I decided that this simple wisdom is now the best possible.
There's a strange silence established in Riverstein. Nothing was happening, evil was lurking. Shaider was encouraging, saying it was a good sign, but I thought he was only calming me down. The children were no longer missing, but they couldn't even find them. Danila was at one of the Rainbow Empire's schools, and there was no word from him.
And Lord Darrell himself had left with Kairos on some urgent business, promising to return in a couple of days, which made the girls noticeably sullen. Especially Rogneda, looking at the curator with a frank adoration.
I was even glad to take a break, but morning training was exhausting, though I didn't want to admit my weakness after them. I tried to make sure neither Shyder nor Xenia noticed that. And now I was glad to spend time following books, immersing myself in the history of the Underworld, like a fairy tale.
The Arch'arrion, as always, appeared suddenly. And completely silent. I sat in my favorite position on the bed, my legs pressed and my nose stuck in a book, when a light movement against the wall caught my attention. He stood there, and it seemed like a long time ago.
I fainted, blushed, rushed into a more dignified position, completely confused myself in the hem of my dress, ridiculously climbed up and blushed again. All these manipulations the demon watched with an impenetrable face, then one step overcame the distance separating us and, easily lifting me, put me by the bed. The dress was shattered in an obedient wave at my feet.
- Thank you," I mumbled in embarrassment.
He pulled back a little, looking at me. I was nervous under that attentive look.
- Could you knock next time," I burst out of the blue, "I'm frightened when you're so... appearing!
The demon mockingly raised his eyebrow.
- As you command. Next time, I'll take the beater with me. - ...he answered seriously. I imagined a lord of darkness coming out of the darkness with a beater in his hand, and I hummed. The Arch'arrion lifted the book that fell to the floor.
- The Chronicles of the Underworld," he read the title, "Did Shaider bring it?
- Yes. Only, everyone but me should see The Life of St. Thabeg and His Wisdom.
- Shaider is a strong magician," the man grinned, "but not for a higher demon. Besides, the spell of hiding the secret knowledge is not difficult - he spent his palm on the pages - I read it, I liked this book.
- Did you go to school, too?
- No... in my youth there was a war... unfortunately. There were no magic schools then, we learned to fight and survive... well, it was a long time ago - he smiled easily - this dress suits you, Vetryana. And I'm sorry that I scared you.
- Thank you," I said awkwardly, and still trying to imagine that this strong and dangerous man was once a child. It was hard to do.
- How are your classes going? - he asked.
- It's going well. Today, Shyder... Lord Darrell is away for a few days. The last time he threw an eater on me and Xenia. I read that it's a kind of steppe harpy, and it's not aggressive, it's more of a fear attack. They eat small rodents and birds if they can catch them. Basically, they stun the animals with their screams.
The Arch'arrion nodded.
- That's right, you're doing great.
I'm a little blushing.
- I like to read. And these books are just amazingly interesting. How's the dragon doing, by the way?
- I think you'll find out soon enough," the demon squinted and
gave me his hand, "do you want it? And you don't have to wear shoes, it's warm.
Golden sparks glistened in my black eyes. I smiled, gave him my hand, and we stepped into the shadows.
It's a familiar feeling of falling and now we're standing in the woods.
And somehow it's clear at first glance that this is a very, very old forest. Even our border forests, with their upward pine trees, would appear to be a glade near this forest.
I gently stepped over my legs and raised the hem. The bare feet drowned in the thick grass, soft and cool. Unspeakably pleasant!
I looked around astonishingly: centuries-old giants spread mighty crowns over my head, so tightly that at their foot there was darkness, which was cut by the narrow rays of the sun. The sparkling sparks of the thick trunks were shivering, frightened by the fireflies' movement. Soft, green from below and white to silver from above, the grass covered the ground, rolled in a ghostly sparkling wave and slightly parted from my steps like a living one.
- Is this the Eternal Forest? - I guessed it. The Arch'arrion nodded. I remembered a map in a book. The Eternal Forest stretched a wide swath on the border with the Rainbow Empire up to the Three Toothed Rocks, where the underground city of dwarves is.
- The eternal forest is the birthplace of elves," said the demon, "they believe that at the origins of time the sacred tree of life split into two parts, becoming the spirits of the forest, and later acquired flesh. One half has become an airy spirit and the other half an earthly spirit. The truth is, what happened to the spirits further, opinions differ. The elves claim that the spirits embodied in an elf and an elven girl. But the dwarves prove that the earthly spirit is their ancestor. That's the way thousands of centuries have been arguing.
I laughed and reached out to smell a shaggy bright red flower with white, like silvered petals.
- And I thought it was only in our Order that everything was so confusing.
- So are we," the demon assured me and pushed the flower away. The shaggy petals were folded up, turned around, and detached from the stem, the flower fluttered and lazily circled above us. I was enchanted to follow his flight.
- There's your acquaintance," the Arch'arrion pulled me away from my sight. The Emerald Ruby Dragon, already familiar to me, came out from behind the mossy boulders and froze as he looked at us.
- Ah! - I came gently closer. - What's wrong? Why is he limping?
The Arch'arrion frowned and unceremoniously pulled the dragon's paw, looking at us. In the fleshy part, a black arrow plumage stuck near its tail. The dragon sighed sorrowfully and fearlessly leaned on the demon.
- Orcs," Arch'arrion explained as he pulled out the arrow. The dragon flinched, but humbly endured. - It's a privilege to get a dragon's head," he said, climbing into the eternal forest. A surprisingly unlucky dragon... that's the third time they've been caught. He's still young, he can't fly, he can't spit fire either. Usually dragons live with adults who guard them before they enter into full force, and this one... I picked him up near the lake with a cub. Now... I'm watching.
The dragon rubbed his shoulder against the Arch'arrion and tried hard to lick it. The demon took a pesky swing, and I smiled.
- How marvelous! I think he thinks you're his...mother!
The demon measured me with such a gloomy look that I preferred not to joke like that anymore and turned to the lizard, carefully guided his hand on the shiny scales.
- Then he and I are both lost. It was not for nothing that I felt a soul mate in him at once! Does he have a name? - The Arch'Arrion shrugged his shoulders, perhaps Rice? There's a fairy tale of a magic dragon with that name in the borderlands. I loved it very much when I was a child.
- I liked the dragon," the demon said without looking at me, "but Rice is better.
And he smiled as if he had touched me in the eyes. Immediately he turned away, squeezed an arrow in the palm of his hand, and threw out the broken remnants. I stroked Rice distractedly, and I thought it best to turn my attention to his wounded paw.
- I read how to heal wounds with force... can I try? - the man nodded and I knelt down and focused on the bleeding wound. Okay, the already familiar warmth in the chest... pull in one point... give it to the palm... with the palm of my hand to cover the wound on the scaly skin... its edges slowly but surely tightened under my fingers.
The dragon pulled his neck, trying to see his leg, let the steam out of his nostrils and gently stepped back. And then he shaken enough to the boulders and settled down in them, curled up.
- That's it! - I joyfully said, getting up from my knees, and a little shaken. Instantly the Arch'arrion picked me up, his hands as if a steel hoop had wrapped around his waist, keeping me from breathing. I screamed, more of a surprise than a fright. He froze, staring intensely into my face.
- No more use of force," he strained through his teeth, "and no more classes with Shider.
- But why not? - I was outraged," he said, "Let go! I'm all right! I just got up too fast!
- I shouldn't have agreed to it at all," he put his hands down and walked away. Only his eyes are still as angry.
- Don't worry," I turned away, "I'm strong enough. And I will not die from our training. You can rest assured... for Argard. And I love training with Lord Darrell!
His eyes are even angrier.
- They do, so... - and I added harshly - there will be no more training. They're making you weaker.
- You don't have to decide everything for me! - I shouted angrily, as much as I can! Why are you telling me what to do? I want to learn how to control the Force, I'm just starting to do something!
The shame overwhelmed me, intercepted my throat from tears and crushed me like a hoop. The dark clouds overshadowed the sun instantly, the light went out, and a formidable shadow of an impending storm ran through the Eternal Forest. The Arch'arrion threw his head down, then looked at the sky in astonishment at me. He stepped back and raised my chin gently, unexpectedly.
- What eyes you have..." he said quietly, "blue...
I froze. His touch awakened something in me, unknown, frightening... dark eyes, dark skin, hard lips that I so wanted to touch. I was afraid of his creepiness. And I was afraid of myself beside him.
- Aargard exacerbates negative emotions, Vetriana. I hurt... anger... fear... you feel them sharper and more painful. It weakens you. You cannot train, you cannot waste your strength. You have to wait until I find a way to get it off.
- And if you don't? - I haven't noticed how I switched to you if I don't have much time left? It's a silence... like a silence before a storm! I must be able to do something when I meet the one who started it! And I'm sure I'll meet him...
- No, - he's still so close, his thumb thoughtfully drew a semicircle on my cheek, - I won't let that happen.
And he let me go, walked away.
- There are those in the Eternal Forest who may be able to help us. They keep ancient knowledge, though I'm not sure they'll want to talk to me. Our peoples have had... disagreements.
I sighed. So we moved here on business, not a walk in the summer woods. Well, that's what I thought.
- And who were they? - The Arch'arrion looked at me and smiled. - The sirens. You call them mermaids.
I awoke and pulled away the hem with all my looks, showing I was ready to go. The thunderstorm passed by.
Chapter 9.
The dark round lake opened to us completely unexpectedly, with an impenetrable mirror projecting from behind the trees. The Arch'arrion lingered in the shade, looking at the calm water surface. It was quiet, not even the birds singing. The long branches of silvery willows gently poured out across the dark water, with fine ripples running from them.
For several minutes we looked at a small lifeless lake, calm as water in a mug.
- Are they here? - in whispering, I asked.
- Yes, they are.
- Where are they? And why did you have a disagreement? - The demon didn't get a chance to answer, the ringing female voice answered.
- Because for Chaos, for too long we've been nothing but a tool in their war, slaves! Why did you come here, Lord of Darkness? You are not welcome here.
I looked up and froze in astonishment. A light drizzle over the lake dispersed, revealing its true appearance: the borders of the small lake spread wide, stretched out over a whole verst, transparent water, as if crystal, darkened to the center, from which the tower was rising, falling into the surface of the lake silent waterfall. Long narrow shadows with fish tails were flying under the water, blond hair of mermaids wrapped around their bodies, curious faces were looking out of the water with transparent eyes and immediately curved contemptuously, looking at the aliens.
Only one was delayed. Having pressed her lips, the siren threw her hair from her face, swam up to a steep bank, pulled up her arms, pulling out her tail body from the water. The tail blown by the wind split in front of my eyes, becoming legs, lake algae, sprawled across her body, forming a fancy lively dress. Her face was white, with transparent to white blue eyes and thin bloodless lips, light, with a green tide, her hair shaking to the ground a little like a mermaid still floating in the water column.
- Hello, Mayira," said the Arch'arrion calmly, "I've come for an answer.
- What makes you think you'll get it? - The mermaid asked me coldly.
- It's your duty, lady of the lake," the demon bowed his head slightly, replied. Mayira was silent, the rage had disappeared from her eyes, she straightened proudly.
- My people owe nothing more to Chaos," she said quietly, "but perhaps you will get an answer. It is not up to me to decide.
The Arch'arrion shook his head.
- You know that they will not answer me.
- It depends on what question you ask, demon," the siren grinned. It turned away from the Arch'arrion, and looked at me.
- A man? - She was a little surprised," she said, "why is she here?
- Because what I need to know... concerns her.
- That's how... - The mermaid looked at me and took my hand without asking. And she recoiled as if she'd been burned.
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