- I'll kill him! - Xenya exhaled, and shut up, gaining air.
- Xenya, what's wrong? - I paused, you were asleep when I left.
- I was asleep! That's right! I slept very well! And I had such a wonderful dream! Like I'm our Mother Superior with a knife, a knife... And this one! It's here! You bastard! With your hands! And with his mouth drooling! And with me... like this!!!! I'm gonna eat him up! I'll tear it up! So that I can never think again!!!!
I was worried.
- Who are you talking about?
- Who else are you talking about? Daniel! I want his darkness to eat without choking!
We looked around. There was a blurring in Schyder's eyes.
- I thought you said you put Daniela to sleep! - I didn't get it.
- I did," said the Lord. His lips were trembling, clearly trying to make a funny smile, but he resisted it honestly. - But the guy had a clear gift for coming in in his sleep, so...
- Like this, in a dream," Xenia blended and thought. I didn't even quarrel anymore," I dreamt about him. Did he sneak into my dream? And this... filthy thing he'd done in his dream???
- Well, he wasn't there when you woke up, was he?
- He wasn't," Xenia said confusedly. "I thought I'd slipped away... Snake!
- In fact, a guy sleeps in his Wastelands and has a dream... A good dream like that... - Lord couldn't stand it, but laughed.
Xenya has come to her senses. She looked around. She realized what she looked like and what she had just said, and slowly but uncontrollably poured paint over her.
- Oh," she said.
But she immediately shook herself, waving her patented head.
- Oh, it doesn't matter! Even though she was dreaming! It's even worse in my dreams! How dare he even get into my dream! What... he was thinking about it, then? Did he imagine it? I'll kill the bastard!!!
And with determination, the girl turned around and rushed out the door.
I looked angrily at the Lord, who wasn't just laughing anymore. Rzhal. Just like a horse! That's what's funny, isn't it?
No, I don't understand these men!
- Lord Darrell! She's going to go looking for him now, Daniela! Do something about it!
He stopped laughing, rolled his eyes, showing how deep he saw it all, but still followed me to catch Xenia.
- Did I tell you to call me by my name? - He thoughtfully stopped on the doorstep.
I really wanted to bring my beast down on him. I could barely hold back.
- Lord Darrell! - I groaned, Shyder! Come on, let's go!
We caught Xenya almost at the gate. Unlike me, my friend always ran very fast.
- Xenia, stop! Where are you going with this! Wait a minute!
- I'm going to rip out some naughty handles and stop! - I promised a friend.
I moaned in my mind. I'm afraid if Xenia really gets to Danila now, the guy's not going to say hello! I've never seen a friend so angry. What did she dream about that? Or was Danila dreaming about it? I got confused...
- Ksenia, why don't we go to the refectory? Avdotya's already back, I think she's cooking breakfast... - I tried to throw the bait. The girl slowed down, thought about it.
- Nah... it's not good to kill a full stomach... it makes you sleepy. So first I'm gonna stab this lousy guy with a knife a couple of times and then I'm gonna go to the refectory!
- Xenya! Stop it! Say it!
Despite the exhortations, she wasn't going to stop and I was ready to catch her with an air loop, but then the Lord stopped having fun and gently hugged Xenya over his shoulders.
- I think it's better to go to the refectory before," he said seriously, looking down at the girl.
Xenia somehow froze, got confused and confused. The anger disappeared from her eyes and freckles were particularly bright.
- No foolishness? - Lord Darrell smiled.
And Xenia nodded like she was spellbound.
- Well, that's good. Tonight, when Danila wakes up, I'll personally bring him to you to tell him my claims, okay, Xenia? And if it's really his fault... I'll punish him personally. Only I'm sure the guy wasn't aware of his actions. He doesn't know how to control his sleepwalks yet. Now go to the refectory, and I have a lot to do...
He pushed Xenia easily towards the shelter and she went without looking back. I sighed lightly. I nodded thankfully to Shaider and ran after him.
* * *
The refectory was already noisy.
The strange Night of Exodus was over, and the shelter was noisy, discussing what had happened. It was clear that nobody understood anything, but Aristarchus, who woke up on the floor, told joyfully about the grace that had descended on Riverstein, about the holy elders who had come to him personally and about the appearance of the Pure Mother.
He believed in it so much, and his story was so contagious that in a couple of hours he managed to get a lot of details and details that Xenia and I only opened our mouths in amazement. The rest of us looked at the arena with such reverence that we could only be amazed at the powerful power of human faith in miracles, which made it so easy for everyone to believe Aristarchus.
Only God's lips were still skeptical and frowning, but she had no answers, except those offered by the Lord and so colorfully developed the Areans.
So she soon joined the rapturous choir of the orphanages.
We lived in a morning porridge of honey and nuts when one of the novices came to his senses:
- And where's Rogneda? - She was surprised at the entire meal of the Sayan, and Mother was not at the prayer... we leaned towards the plates, pretending it was none of our business.
The novices got excited, trying to remember who and when last saw the missing. Luckily, the conversations went silent with the curator in the refectory. He thoughtfully examined the quiet novices, nodded coldly to the mentors.
- By decree of His Majesty the King of the Northern Kingdom of Amaron, today, on the first day of the winter of Veprus, the Riverstein asylum closes. All novices will be transferred to Zagreb for further training. Mentors are to report to Starover, the Abode of the Order, to confirm their knowledge and skills. Those who succeed... - the Lord paused and looked at the compressed mentor, which made it clear that oh how difficult it will be for them...! - will be sent to other orphanages and orphanages in the future.
The Lord was silent. There was such silence in the refectory that everyone heard a spoon that had been dropped by someone...
- By evening, everyone must be ready to move on," concluded the Lord. And he softened when he saw the freshmen ready to cry.
- Don't be afraid," he said softly, "you will love Zagreb. I promise you that.
The younger ones, who looked at the curator with sincere reverence and were accustomed to believe him unaccountably, became merry. If the lord said it would be all right, then so be it.
The elders, especially the graduates, were upset.
- What about you? - I took the risk of asking Polad, Lord Darrell? Are you coming to Zagreb with us, too?
Everybody's staring at a man with hope.
Shyder smiled.
- No, girls. You'll have a new curator at the new shelter, and believe me, he's a very decent man!
- But how come... - the alumni slammed their eyelashes on him without letting the lovers out of their sight, - but how come!
Lord Darrell shrugged his shoulders easily.
- My work in Riverstein is done and I must return to the capital. - he was silent, and lastly, take only the memorabilia, Zagreb will provide you with everything you need.
- Wait," Beaujolais outraged, "where is Lady Araltis? Why isn't she here? You know, it's all... strange!
- Lady Araltis and one of the novices have already left for Starover at dawn.
- But how so? Why didn't she warn us? She couldn't leave without telling us...
- Do you doubt what I'm saying, Mrs. Beaujolais? - Lord Darrell asked coldly, and the Prior flinched - or my authority?
- No, what are you, Lord Da
rrell... that's not what I meant to say... I wasn't thinking at all...
The curator nodded, circled the mentors, who were quiet and distracted. And he came out.
There was still silence for a moment, and then the refectory exploded with voices. The news was so stunning that many didn't even know how to react. Some rejoiced at the new life that awaited in the big shopping city, others were sad about Riverstein, who was their home and afraid of change.
The mentors were frankly trying to contain the panic that had gripped them. For them, the wind of change threatened to turn into a deadly tornado.
I licked the spoon thoughtfully.
- What about us? - I quietly said to Xena, what about us?
After all the events, we forgot that we were still novices and didn't even think about what we should do next...
- I'm not going to Zagreb," said Xenia frowningly, "and I've had enough of the Order! I've had enough! Full of spoonfuls...
I nodded. Yes, to continue the life of a novice would be unthinkable... but what do we do? We had no money, no family, no home... I smiled at a friend.
- The main thing is that we are together," I said. - And together we'll think of something.
Xenia nodded with grim determination.
I listened to the fire inside me and was surprised. The Archarrion was still in the Riverstein area. Looking for traces of the Village? Probably... because I have returned Argard, and nothing else keeps him here... and he himself said that as soon as he gets the artifact, I will not see him again. I put my head down. My appetite is gone.
The air beast licked his hand. The puppy rushed through the refectory, swept his hair, hem, hang it...
- It's a squash! The blanket that froze, close the door! If you catch us... - Mrs Pava wasn't happy. Polada looked at her mentor, closed the door, shrugged her shoulders and came out.
- She went... - I wasn't sure, I said, and Xenia and I came up from the table. Then the others reached out. The changes to come were feverishly bleeding and discouraging appetite.
* * *
I ran off into the woods after all.
Only before I had to convince Xenia that I was okay, and I just wanted to... go to the woods! A friend who was in remorse for her behavior and fear of losing me again, stubbornly walked beside me, clutching a stolen knife in her hand again.
- I'll go with you! - gloomy and firm, she said.
- Ksenka, why are you freezing? I'm only going to the spruce tree, get some air, and back!
- I'll go with you! - She cut off Xenya. I ate my lip without knowing to laugh or cry. I wanted to be alone... I was too used to running into the woods alone, talking to him without even looking back at my beloved friend...
- They never found the village, did they? There's no telling where that... bummer... is! Maybe it's just under that bush! I'll go with you!
I sighed, giving up.
- The Archarrion's out there somewhere. And he found no sign of a priestess...
Xenia carefully examined the spruce tree, which was already light in the light of dawn. She looked at the squint.
- The archarrion... the demon. I saw him walking through that burning star... It was a terrible sight. And it was creepy. I've never seen anything scarier in my life...
We didn't say anything. The memories of last night have flashed again. It's the euphoria now that it's over, that we're alive, but... how many more times is this night gonna be our nightmares?
- Do you feel something for him? - All of a sudden, Xenya asked me, and I was worried. I stopped staring at my girlfriend. She was embarrassed.
- I already woke up when you tried to heal him. Both me and Lord Darrell. You cried so much. And you were screaming... I'm sorry.
I turned my back, and we climbed through a breach in the wall in silence. And no one's forbidden to go through the gate anymore, so no, it's back to the breach!
Ksenka easily jumped in the snow, gave me her hand. The chain of my footprints from yesterday was already covered with snow chips...
- No, Xenia... I said it quietly. - I don't feel anything. I was just scared.
A friend snorting skeptically. But she didn't ask me anything else. And I was grateful to her. Did she believe... I don't know. Did I lie? I don't know...
But what else could I have said? Stupid things that the heart dreams of? And that will never happen, because it just can't be? Even if to reject the fact that the Archarrion is the ruler of Chaos and I am a poor novice, to close one's eyes to the fact that he is a demon and I am a human being, then how can one forget the dawn morning in the village of Shiites? And a small house twined with roses, and a blue woman and a sword brought in...
Even if I wanted to give in to the power of the merger, even for a moment to forget and believe, I knew I would never do it. I couldn't do it.
What's that for? Because it's just a merger... it's just that. It's gonna rupture and there's nothing left...
I shaken my head, throwing my thoughts away. You can't think about him. I don't know exactly what I call Archarrion, but I'm not going to do it now.
It was frosty and quiet in the spruce, a little crackling, talking, trees, escorting me with swings of fluffy branches. The air beast licked his palms, begged for freedom, and I led with my hand, letting go. It swept a snow whirl, scattered the snow in front of us, cleaned the trail. And he went to mischief, to frighten the birds, to ride under the fir paws and rock the fluffy tops...
At first Xenia was afraid of what was happening, but then she saw my smile and relaxed. I just looked at the squint and my lips were biting. But I appreciated her silence, which is so necessary for me now, and knew what it cost my restless and straightforward girlfriend. I gratefully smiled at her and walked down the path between the rows of sleeping pines, touching them with my hand and listening.
I could hear the dreams of the trees under the snow caps. The voice of the earth that sang to me about the new life hidden in it. A whisper of lakes bounded by ice. I touched the rough bark and pine trees covered me with their paws, hugged me, groveled. The spirits of the earth told me their stories and there were so many of them that you can listen to the whole century, and they were in a hurry, whispering, arguing ... The air beast played in the snow, lay down next to me, wrapping my feet warmly ... I smiled at him and waved my palm to heat Xenia ...
And she listened and listened to the voice of my land and my forest...
I don't know how long it's been.
I woke up, got out from under the tree tent, looked around.
Xenya was sitting in a snowdrift. She was colored, as if she wasn't resting in the frost, but on the stove.
- The chicken..." she called, "and who are you?
I sniffed, snapped my girlfriend in the nose.
- The same Vetryana said," I laughed, "and a little bit more... The last of the schemes.
- What do you mean? - Xenia whispered in astonishment.
- It just so happened... Come on, let's go for a walk.
And as we walked back, I told you how I found myself in a temporary tunnel, how a settlement of the Scheets burned, and how I pushed a little blue-eyed girl into a foggy rift. She told me calmly, without emotion. And the Archarrion was silent. But that was enough, too. Xenia looked first by opening her mouth. Then she ran in a circle, treading the path. Then she tried to kick trees, but I told her not to. But on the masonry walls, her girlfriend came off...
I'm even tired of waiting.
- Xen, let's go already, huh? - I laughed at you, - come on, like a little... Come on!
The girl finally calmed down, exhaled.
- Let's go, - she agreed. And she looked.
- But do not look at me like that!
- Don't look at me like that!
- That's it! That's enough! Xenya! It's like my horns have grown! And the flame is coming from my mouth!
- Yeah! The flame, so you can't do it?
- I can't do anything yet," I laughed, "I can hear the voice of the earth... trees... the be
ast at my fingertips... air... and nothing else.
- And nothing else! - Ksenka mocked me with a nasty voice, - and I have a piece of my soul somewhere! That's how it is!
- Oh! You're so mean!
We laughed so much that the frightened junks jumped off the branches. And we came back to Riverstein completely satisfied with each other and ourselves.
* * *
By tonight, Riverstein was empty. I can't imagine how Lord Darrell did it in such a short time, but by the evening dawn there were several crews waiting at the gate.
Many of the girls cried frankly, others woke up, picked up their nose, but the tightly pressed palms in which they held the travel chests were visible: and they felt uncomfortable...
The charioteers shouted, hurried, sighed and watched the evening view. They tried to get to the nearest settlement before dark, and in the morning to move to Zagreb as well...
Mentors in their crew plunged silently, frowning, not looking at a frightened bunch of former students, only the Areans still told of the convergence of the holy elders that night. But nobody listened to him anymore.
But Avdotya and Danina did not hide their feelings, hugged the girls, no longer afraid of the disgruntled call of the mentors and secretly dried their tears.
When everybody sank, a well-coordinated shot of hooves knocked on the cold road, and an armed detachment jumped out in front of the gate. Lord Darrell had foreseen everything and was not going to leave his former wards without protection.
Ksenia and I hid in the dark apprentice's room, from where the yard was best viewed. While the girls sat in the wagons, obsessing over their dresses and sobbing their noses, we hid behind the curtains and shuddered frightened at the sound of footsteps in the hallway. Like when we were kids. Only then did we hide because we wanted to run away, and now we want to stay.
But the yard was empty and even the sound of the hooves was hushed in the frosty air. It was quiet in Riverstein. Deafening, unbelievably quiet. The castle was silent. There was no more whispering of girls in its corridors, no more light footsteps, no more rustling of dresses... gossip, laughter, crying, prayers, and screams... no more rushing down the stairs late for class, no more heavy books falling with knocking, no smokers of extinct oil lamps...
The Wind of the North Page 33