I've got a fairy tale that's noble, with fire and smell. At least, Solmeya was clearly pleased. She seems to have never shown such a road to anyone before. And even if the girl was hesitant, she didn't give a look, she sat satisfied, shining eyes.
Behind the walls of the sanctuary, the wolf wailed long, complaining about the beast's share. Somewhere behind the spruce tree, the second one answered. And it was as if a wave had wolf howling all around. And then it suddenly became tarred and broke.
- It's time for me," said the mermaid with regret and with one movement flowed into the water, clinging to the curb with her thin fingers. - Be careful... Vetriana. The hostess was worried about you.
Mayira? The thin, white-eyed mistress of the lake? Worried about me?
- It was not in vain that she went into the whirlpool," the siren's head fell down repentantly, the green strands swam across the dark water like lake algae, "and He is agitated, walking in black circles, pouring out his eyes, sulking... even the way he has passed can be changed, Vetryana.
- Wait, Solmeya! I do not understand...
But the mermaid had already gone deep, shining its silver tail to say goodbye.
* * *
There was a storm at night. A snowstorm covered Riverstein and Wasteland, the wind whipped the stone building and bent the century-old spruce. Something under the roof howled and roared, the cold air humming in the fireplaces. Fortunately, there was enough firewood now, and we burned it without pity, heating the living quarters. And it was still very cold in the building.
By morning, the storm had calmed down, dissipated, and the silence, deafening after the snowstorm, had fallen on the Borderland.
I didn't get much sleep. Night gatherings with a mermaid didn't do me any good, my throat was drowsy, and I had a deaf cough in my chest. And again, this fatigue...
I got up and immediately dizzy, I hunted, grabbed the back of the bed. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to keep warm. Inside, slowly smoldering alien demon fire, supporting and keeping me warm. I sighed, trying not to think about it.
Memories hurt, and Argard intensified my emotions, making them unbearable and weakening me. So you don't have to think, switch to something else, distract yourself...
I dressed up, my shivering hands covered my hair. Distraction... we have to try to remember what made me so alert at night in that portal room. I tried to look inside her, to remember. Here's the wall with the bronze light. Here's the window. The floor is clean. The junk in the corner... even assuming the kids were moving to Riverstein from the border portal, where did they go later? It's dusty in the hallway, just like the other rooms. And only this room with the bronze light is clear.
I only had one answer to this riddle, and that's what I was going to check. In a hurry, I threw myself out of the room and rushed into the common bedroom looking for Xenia. But strangely enough, my girlfriend wasn't there.
- She jumped up first, dressed up and ran away," Polada, a chubby girl, told me, carefully combing her hair with a comb. - and, in fact, strange Ksenka, for some last time...
- So who are you going to talk to," smacked a lot like the pole of Sayan. I didn't pay attention to that line. Sayana was a faithful girlfriend and let Rogneda down. Since she was a child, she had been instigating me and Ksenka. The girls giggled.
- You don't know where she went," I asked Polada. She shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.
- Why didn't the girlfriend tell you where she was spending her time? Maybe she finally understood that it's better not to get involved with those told? And you found yourself some decent company?
And here's Rogneda... I turned to her, looked her in the eye. Still, it wasn't for nothing that she was always considered beautiful. A precise figure, a beautiful, arrogant face... she reminded me of someone elusively, but not of features, but of some perfect face.
I wince. I didn't want to waste my energy trying to figure out a relationship. I turned my back to go out and look for Xenia in the refectory, or Danina's. But it wasn't here. Rogneda was blocking my way.
- Did I let you go? - I was surprised at her. I was surprised in the most sincere way.
- Do I need your permission, Rogneda?
- Don't you dare get in my way, you lousy girl! - A girl whispered, leaning towards me. I was detached from the hatred that was blowing in her eyes. - Don't you think I see your ridiculous tricks? Would you like a pitiful trick? You think you can get what's mine once it's a little better?
I looked at her in total amazement.
- Rogneda, I don't know what you mean.
- Don't you dare! - Rogneda shrieked, her beautiful face twisted with anger, instantly losing its aristocratic perfection and becoming babe and ugly - do not lie! You're doing it on purpose! I did it on purpose! You spin your scrawny ass in front of him like... like a sinner! You're trying to please the Lord... I know!
I opened my mouth. Holy elders!
- Rogneda," I said very calmly, "I don't do anything like that. You are mistaken.
- Do you, you stupid scarecrow, think you're better than me?
- I think I don't want to waste time talking to you," I said indifferently.
The girls in the bedroom are frozen, tensely listening to our conversation. Polada's hand and crest are frozen in the air. I felt disgusted and ashamed. Of course, the Lord's orders about the special treatment of me and Kseni did not go unnoticed. Jealous girl's eyes also noted my absence from classes and too frequent communication with the capital's curator. And made conclusions.
I sighed. Rogneda, however, pulled herself together, wearing a haughty mask on her face. And I remembered who she reminded me of. The incomparable Village of Araltis, our Mother Superior. And I was struck by that comparison. It seems to have nothing in common, but it's an expression of a little contemptuous arrogance... why be surprised. The Lady of the Village had many examples to follow, whether the girl was conscious or not, copied her impeccable manners and expressions of beautiful face, and for Rogneda, she was an idol at all. Only that which was innate and natural for the lady of the village was artificial and natural for Rogneda.
I resolutely bypassed her, wanting to finish this silly conversation. I'm only wasting time.
- You will regret this," Rogneda said quietly to me. But I didn't even turn around.
I tried not to think about this unfortunate conversation, to get it out of my head, but it turned out badly. It was hurtful. Why does Rogneda hate me so much? Did I hurt her in any way? No. What about the others? Does everyone in Riverstein think that about me? That the lord is trying to like me? But that's not true!
I leaned against a stone wall with my forehead. My face burned in my eyes like sand had been poured. I took a deep breath, trying to calm down. Of course, it was all little things. Evil words from a jealous girl who wanted to hurt me. I shouldn't pay any attention to it, let alone cry.
I still stood, imagining myself wrapped in a dense invisible cocoon, which protects me from the outside world. As a child, it always helped me. It's helped me now. The shame remained, but my breathing became easier, and my throat stopped spasm.
I didn't go looking for Xenia in other rooms. I just didn't have the strength to go where other students or prioresses are now, and my feet carried me to an abandoned part of the building.
This time I didn't take any chances, so I didn't go through the gallery, but around. In the light of day, the mysterious room did not look mysterious, just cluttered room. And the floor was already covered with a thin layer of dust, so you'd think I'd seen it all. I walked from corner to corner, looking at the walls and the pieces of furniture piled up in the corner. Heavy cabinet without doors, black chest with rags, shoes with rotten straw falling out. Narrow windows are pinned down, only one still mica and liquid light from it trembles in a light square on the floor.
So, if my guess is right...
I walked in a circle, carefully examining and touching the walls. My fingers slid on the damp plaster, shattering with rubb
le somewhere. So I walked through two walls, reached the window. Nothing. But I wasn't going to give up. I went around again in a circle, and again to no avail.
- But it has to be! - I mumbled under my nose. I waved my head, closed my eyes, opened it. Okay, okay, okay. The walls. Hackneyed windows. Old junk. Bronze-curled light fixture. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place.
Of course you are!
I slammed myself on the forehead! There's something else in every room! Besides the walls, there was a ceiling and a floor! The ceiling wouldn't help me, but the floor...
I got down on my knees, then I stuck my nose in the floor looking at the dark boards. The square of light was a little faded, the sky beyond the walls of Riverstein tightened with a cloud. I walked up to the wall with the bronze lamp, stood with my back to it, and looked under my feet. I imagined a child coming in here. How suddenly he finds himself in this room, not understanding how it happened, frightenedly screams, leaning against the wall...
And I cried out in my voice, because a hatch opened under me and I flew down to the dungeon with a cube!
Fortunately, my flight was not long and I landed quite successfully on rotten shoes. I got up, made a dull flashing light, and looked around. I stood in the narrow "gut" of the dungeon, no wider than an arch, in an earthen hole. Behind my back was a dead end, a blank wall, a winding black passageway ahead. The hatch above my head closed, and now I couldn't even see him looking. Anyway, I couldn't climb back up the wet and slippery walls.
So the only option left was to go forward. My light would light up the space for no more than a couple of elbows, and then everything would sink into darkness. I shaken up and listened to the silence. There seems to be water dripping somewhere in front... and there must also be rats. Brr...
The already dull light was stuttering and fading, my weak strength was not even enough to sustain it. I have eaten. In the darkness that surrounded me seemed to hide unknown monsters looking at me. I touched the wall carefully with my hand. It was disgustingly slimy to the touch, smelling of rot, but at least it was some kind of support. Touching the wall was scary, and it seemed like my fingers were about to touch something alive and ugly...
After thinking about it, I went ahead carefully. Holy elders, I hate dungeons! The walls seem to be closing around, the pressure, less air... I breathed, trying to calm down and convince myself that everything is okay. After all, I have the blood of a demon in me, and for him, the darkness is his home...
Either the blood of the Arch'arrion helped me, or I was able to convince myself, but it became easier and I was more confident in moving forward.
After two dozen steps, the tunnel had widened slightly, I could no longer touch the walls with my shoulders, and even the air was not so dull. I cheered up, accelerated my step. Somewhere up ahead, I think I even got the light...
And then something creepy, dark attacked me out of the darkness, fell on the floor and got into my neck with steel teeth...
I squealed, trying to shake the monster off.
- Chickenpox? - surprised at the monster, is that you?
- Xenya?
The beast rolled back from me, drove in and smacked on fire. Live fire illuminated my friend's plague face.
- Ksenya! - I almost strangled her in my arms with joy, it was you! And I thought I was attacked by a terrible monster!
- Yeah... I was thinking the same thing about you...
- What did you almost cut me with?
A friend showed me a knife jammed in her hand.
- But how did you end up here? Did you guess about the secret passage, too?
- I didn't guess anything," the girl burst out, "just decided to reconsider everything in this room, I didn't understand how I fell into that hole! Fuck it! What about you?
- I thought that if there's a portal in the room, but there's no sign of it in the hallway, it means no one's come out of this room. And there's only one answer, there's got to be a secret passage in this room. That's what I was looking for. I found it...
We didn't say anything.
- What do we do?
- Get out," Ksenia stood up resolutely and pulled me up.
- It's good to have a ray.
- There's only one left, not enough for a long time. Another one I burned when I fell down here. Eh... I don't really want to wander through this dungeon in the dark. Can you make a ball as luminous as the lord did yesterday?
- Alas... - I sighed, - my strength wasn't even enough for a little light, it went out in a few moments. All I could do was look around.
- I'm sorry," a friend caught fire, "okay, don't get too excited. Is it all right that you and I haven't seen any cellars or anything? Let's go somewhere quiet and go out. Look under your feet, there wasn't enough to please you in some other pit.
And she pulled my hand. The beam went out a dozen steps later, and we found ourselves in total darkness again.
- Xenia, don't you think the tunnel is going down? - Whispering, I asked.
- It seems... although much lower... and damp is how... oh!
- What are you doing?
- The wall's over. There's a turn.
- And now where?
- I don't know... come here... do you think the missing kids roamed around here too?
- I guess. If our assumptions are correct and they were transferred from the portal to the upstairs room and then fell into the hatch, yes, they should have been here.
- Or someone was already waiting for them near the hatch.
- Yeah... I squeaked and stopped.
- What are you doing?
- Look, but that someone could still be here, right? Yesterday, I thought someone was watching me in that room with the portal.
Xenya stopped too, we were staring into the dark with our backs pressed against each other. It seemed more and more clear to me that there was someone in the darkness, and that someone was looking at us very badly.
- Xen... do you only have one knife? - I asked in a terrible whisper. A girlfriend hummed.
- Of course I have one. I stole this one from Avdotya, too. Chickenpox, you're a magician, why do you need a knife? Why don't you hit me with this... power wave?
- I don't think so... since my light has gone out... I think my powers are weakening under the ground...
- You try it. Maybe you can.
I closed my eyes even though I didn't see anything. I pressed tighter against Xenie's warm back, pulled the Force... my hand with Argard was burned by fire and he pulled my power in as if he licked. I was weak, I was dizzy.
I sighed.
- It's not working, Xenia, I'm sorry. It's just getting worse.
- Okay, don't be sad. Let's move on. I thought there was a flash of light ahead.
- Really? Where's that?
I stared hopefully where I was supposed to be, but I didn't see anything. We went again, holding hands, and touching cold walls with our free hands. Soon, my left hand fell into the void, too.
- Ksenia, there's a turn, too.
- It's just a maze! - My friend was outraged.
- Shall we turn it around? Or is it straight?
- It doesn't matter... we're lost anyway...
We turned around, though. Now it seemed like the floor was going up, which made us very happy. Somewhere our fingers were sliding on a smooth rock. I listened anxiously. I couldn't help but feel the look of someone else.
- I don't understand who had to dig those tunnels, Xenia was screwing up.
- The underground tunnels made it possible to get out of Riverstein in case of war or fire. I read about it. I even assumed there might be secret passages under the shelter. Except I thought they'd been destroyed a long time ago...
- It's better that the truth is destroyed! Oh, you dead gelding... That's disgusting!
- What are you doing? - I was frightened.
- I put my hand in some slime. There's a hollow in the wall. Ew... disgusting. Looks like a half-rotted rat corpse.
- Did you...
did you feel it? - I was impressed.
- You don't have a canvas with you, do you?
- I don't...
- That's a shame. Ugh, it stinks. At least give me a headscarf or something. I lost mine.
- Here you go. Oh, don't give it back! Keep it!
There's a sound coming out of the darkness. I was wary.
- Xenya, did you hear that?
- Did you hear what?
- There's someone in there.
- Maybe it sounded like something? Or a rat?
- Maybe it's...
We stared into the darkness, but saw nothing. And slowly we moved forward. Only now I tried not to touch the walls, the possibility of finding a rotten rat there did not inspire. And the living one, all the more so. Sometimes my fingers fell into emptiness, hollows in the wall and it was not clear whether they were natural or made by human hands.
- How long do you think we have been walking here? - whispered to Xenya.
- I don't know... I whispered the same thing. It was scary to speak in full voice. The sound bounced off the walls and rustled behind my back as if someone else was standing there...
- Yeah... I wonder what's in the refectory today? Honey porridge... and a sweet bun... eh!
We swallowed the saliva at the same time.
- Do you think anyone will be looking for us if we don't find a way out?
- Of course we will," I outraged myself, persuading myself rather than hers, "don't be silly! And I sadly remembered that such underground tunnels could occupy a vast area, had many false branches to deceive enemies, and had terrible traps like the pits with the sharpened stakes below. That's the trap I wasn't thinking about.
- Xenia," I said very calmly, "you just go carefully. I don't know if there's a hole here... or if there is.
- Vetriana, are you hiding something from me? - A friend asked me suspiciously.
- No, I'm just worried. Not much... by the way, I remembered. I read somewhere that in such underground passages under locks rats can grow into human height! Can you imagine? Oh... I shouldn't have said that, I think...
It was rustling in the dark. Ksenka squeezed my palm and gently pushed me behind her back.
The Wind of the North Page 22