Chapter 18.
The forest around us was getting darker and thicker. Sometimes it bothered me, it seemed like we'd get stuck in the impassable more often, but no. An almost imperceptible but steady path was still winding between the trees. Soon I understood what Archharrion meant when he said that this forest was different. I realized it when something between the trees, white and silver, flicked away... and froze on the trail, looking at us. And we froze too, I, so frankly opened my mouth in amazement.
Because there was a unicorn under the age-old oak tree, bowing its head with a silver horn twisted... The white mane dropped almost to the ground, the black elongated eyes too sensible for an animal. In a flash, the unicorn looked at us, and then hit us with its hoof, sweeping a sheaf of silver sparks into the air.
Daniel alone reacted to my astonished delight, losing his silent frown at once. Lord Darrell and Archbishop just glanced and hummed, and Xenia was silent at all.
Sometimes with my inner gaze I could catch a glimpse of the yellow eyes watching us from the thicket. Sometimes that gaze lingered on me, and then I felt the same curiosity and incomprehensible interest.
At midday I stopped to have a snack and stretch myself by a small standing lake wrapped in yellow and green robes. I was in a hurry and went to the water, hoping to refresh myself. But I was grabbed by the Archarrion's hand and turned back.
- There's a brooch," he said. I raised my eyebrows," said the swamp. - He explained.
I looked at everything with the same bewilderment.
- Sit by the fire," the Archarrion frowned, "and there's water in the wrappers.
I nodded, turned around, and went to the lake. The demon stared at me, looking at me, did not expect me to disobey. And then he followed me with a little chuckle. Ksenka and Danila tied up behind us. And then Lord Darrell came along.
The lake was small, about four dozen bars long and heavily swampy, supported by mud and overgrown with lilies. I listened to the voice of the standing water. I sat down on the beach, looking at the yellow flowers. Xenya sank down next to me.
- What is it? - Whispering, she asked.
- What-what," Danila answered grumbly for me, "is the swamp there!
- It's a brooch," I said.
- Who is it?
I shrugged my shoulders. The three of us stretched our necks and leaned over the water, trying to look into its dark and thick depths. The driver stirred up, went lightly rippled, and ... poured stinking marsh slurry all over us!
We jumped up like scalded, grabbing air with our mouths and trying to wipe the sticky filth off our faces. Xenia gave us the whole set of swearwords she knew, Danila was panting and moaning, and I tried not to breathe that the swamp water hadn't gotten in my mouth either!
But Shaider and Archarrion had a lot of fun watching this performance! I didn't think they could laugh so harmoniously!
Then we looked at each other and started laughing, too. The painting was impressive: grimy, in lumps of dirt, with a frock in his hair, and lilies hanging on his ears! What a glorious sight!
We had to walk all the way to the river to get washed, so the swampy mud dried up on us. And Danila still had to wait, itch and endure while Xenia and I washed our dresses. But when we returned to the fire, wrapped in blankets, everyone smiled and joked at each other. Even the scary mask, so frightening on Xenia's face, disappeared, and her friend again became the laughing girl I knew her to be.
So I smiled, too, looking at my friends. And I was thinking about the swampy spirit of a brooch, an invisible, harmless, but very harmful creature living in such overgrown lakes. Swamp bogs don't like human attention, and all those who are curious are trying to get stinking oil from the bottom. However, sometimes even such tricky creatures can be very useful.
I reached out to the already calm marsh water and thanked the marsh spirit in my mind. But he did not want to communicate, so he hid at the bottom, thinking about bad people and ruined lilies.
I wrapped a hot mug of clay with a burdock so I wouldn't get burned, smiled, and didn't react in any way to the attentive look of too dark eyes. Well, I guessed, and okay. Blood lining isn't the only thing that makes me too perceptive.
Somewhere in the thickets there was a wolf again and I was surprised the beast could have so much fun...
* * *
The rest of the day went by without incident. The trail we walked became even thinner, sometimes disappearing under the carpet of pretty leaves. Soon we had to hurry and lead the horses on, so that by evening we were all falling down from our feet with fatigue. And soon we had a snack and fell asleep.
In the middle of the night, I woke up for some reason. I woke up in a blanket trying to make myself comfortable and remembering what woke me up. I turned my head, sighed quietly. It's the first time I've seen an Archarrion sleeping. It turns out that the demon is sleeping too... but in his sleep his face is hard and his body is as if ready for battle. He lies right on the ground, just wrapped in a cloak, palms on the blade handles...
And Shyder, who was supposed to guard us in the first half of the night, fell asleep too! He leaned his back on the barrel and fell asleep, even though he was holding a sword pulled out of his sheath.
And from the edge of the meadow sits a familiar wolf, and yellow eyes glow slightly, reflecting the light of the moon.
I turned over to my side very quietly, rightfully believing that if I got up, Archarrion would wake up. I listened to the wolf. He slightly turned his face as if calling for himself. I did not feel any threat, only waiting and even... pleading.
I gently reached out to Archarrion. His eyelids trembled, but I stroked his hair in my mind, touched his eyes, calmed him down... I lulled him down... And he fell asleep. He fell asleep harder than he let himself sleep during our journey. His face became softer and not so tense, his lips were slightly touched by a smile. The demon had a good dream.
I ate my lip, looking at it in the wrong light of the moon. But the wolf came even closer, already persistently tearing the leaves with his paw. I nodded and went up, put on a dark cloak and went after the beast.
It was a strange night walk. I walked past sleeping trees on a forest path, a huge gray beast sometimes stopped waiting for me, and impatiently ripped its leaves apart. Then I noticed that two more gray shadows appeared at the sides and froze cautiously. The first wolf turned around, not realizing what stopped me, irritated, and the gray shadows disappeared, dissolved in the woods. The beast looked at me again. Yellow eyes were in a hurry.
I nodded and almost ran, picking up my skirt and slightly tangled in my cloak. Suddenly the trees parted, opening a small clearing, and I immediately understood why they had called me.
By the thick roots of the pine there lay a black beast. This wolf was bigger and more powerful than my guide, or any animal I had seen or could have imagined. It had an elongated, sensual mouth with yellow teeth from which white foam fell. A ripped ear. Dirty hair, pulled out in shreds, and on its side torn wound, from which the black in the dark bleeds.
I turned to grey. He looked at the dying wolf with such a longing that I was squeezed by the emotions of others that came at me. And I hurriedly sat down next to the black wolf, no longer paying attention to the terrible flaming jaws.
The power didn't come back immediately, but then it stabbed me in the fingers. I poured it in the usual tremors, it did not work, maybe lacked experience ... But the beast was not important. When my head began to spin, and my breath ran out, and took my palms off the body of the wolf and moved away, almost fell on the grass. I did not think that it would be so hard to heal it ... maybe because the beast is so large, or I have not yet recovered from the rockfall ... I lay on the ground, swallowed the air, and dreamed to crawl to the nearest pine. But I had no strength. Grey shadows were slowly circling me, sliding from all sides. Two dozen yellow eyes were watching me wary.
The last thing I saw was the blue blades shining in the darkness and the angry face of Archarrion. And I fell into the dark
ness.
* * *
I woke up with strange noises, and they were talking next to me. And seemingly calm, but at the same time, the air trembles from the spilled tension, I can feel it even with my eyes closed. The voices weren't familiar, and I was scared. Then I heard the voice of the Archpriest and calmed down. And I listened to it.
- ...What makes you think she'd be sick here? - ...the voice is subtle, with roaring notes and light wheezing," she heard, Jared saw the girl talking to the forest. And she likes it, she's good here. And the unicorns are back, and this is a sign... She can walk the Wolf Trail and stay with us. We won't force her, but if she wants to stay...
- She won't," the demon says calmly, but my gut burns a merciless rage.
- Why?
- She has a house. And she is human. What joy is it to stay with...you?
- We will take care of her," the voice is different now. Younger, with calm, confident intonations - I will take care of her. And... if the girl lets me, I want to take the path with her.
- Wow, Jared," the mocking voice undoubtedly belongs to Lord Darrell, "but behind the mockery I hear anger," why so zeal?
- If a girl is not bound and her heart is free, then she has a choice, doesn't she?
- She is bound by blood," the voice of Archarrion is already in danger.
Tense silence. And again, an ingratiating voice.
- Unfinished, isn't it? Why have you not made it yours, Lord of Darkness? Even though the merger is known to be stronger than even a wolf's call, this merger is not complete... So the merger is accidental, and you're not going to connect your life with it, are you?
The flames are already burning so hard I can't breathe. And all of a sudden, it subsides, it calms down.
- It's none of your business, Leader," says Archharrion cold.
- Not mine... However, the unfinished merger is not recognised even in Chaos. And even more so in our country. The first intimacy with another...with whom the girl chooses will tear the merger apart.
Now there's no fire inside me, there's a cold, ruthless desire to kill. The owner of the ingratiating voice does not even know how close he is to the world of shadows. I think it's time to understand what's going on here.
I opened my eyes and sat down. It turns out that all this time I was lying on a warm flat rock in the middle of the clearing. And around the glade there were white trees that I knew with small leaves and droplets... There were the same ones in the woods near Riverstein, and the same altar stone... Only there they were killed, and the trees died, and here they spread out with chic crowns, and the stone was evenly warm. There's no doubt it was the Source of Power. Only very weak, almost imperceptible. And it was as if the trees were collecting this light force and keeping it.
But now I was more occupied by something else. With Archharrion and Lord Darrell with their backs to me as if closing, their backs tense, Schader's hand on the sword's handle. The demon does not touch his blades, but I remember how fast he takes them out...
A little aside, Xenya plays with her acanar, squinting dark eyes like a cat. Danila looks perplexed, but his palms glow slightly, rolling the Force.
And in front of the stone, strangers are frozen. I was surprised to stare at them. There's a tall, dark-haired man ahead, naked chest girded with a little blood rag. There are old scars on his face, one ear torn. Black hair sticking out in scraps. It is, I understand, the owner of a sneaky voice. The leader.
He's got a guy just as tall behind him. His eyes are smoky, like his hair, looking calm and confident. And behind them are a dozen other men, all alone in the same pants, barefoot and with bare breasts. And unarmed.
Who are they?
I crawled off a rock and everybody moved in, turned to me. The smoky one smiled joyfully, too.
- What's going on here?
- Here, girlfriend, let's share your skin," Xenia said. The leader jerked his tongue, shaken his head reproachfully.
- Why so rude..." he said, "Let me introduce myself... My name is Grant and I am... the leader of this forest. And on this earth. We will not harm you, Vetriana, do not be afraid.
I looked into his eyes, I listened. It's familiar...
- You are a wolf," I said. He nodded and everyone smiled joyfully. I don't know what made them so happy. I looked at the guy with the smoky eyes, remembered sitting on a rock in one shirt and blushing. I was also surprised at the strange curiosity of the beast. Well...
The smoker smiled even happier.
- Jared," he said, even though I had guessed it.
Grant stepped forward slightly and the Archarrion moved slightly, still closing me down. The leader frowned, but he retreated. And he smiled again, looking at me.
- Vetritsa, don't be afraid, we won't hurt you," he repeated, "you saved my life last night. You have healed the wound you suffered in battle, almost completely. For the flock... hm... for us your life is now priceless..." He stopped smiling and became serious, "and our forest is now your forest. We ask you to stay.
- Stay? But why?
- The forest needs a hearer... And the last hearers left here centuries ago. Without the hearers, our forest dies and we don't know how to help it. - he sighed and I suddenly realized how hard it was to tell him. In the eyes of the pack, I saw doom. I suddenly got excited.
- Wait... your hearing... were they schemata?
- Yes," the Leader nodded, "that's what they were called elves.
I got even more excited.
- Where did they go? Over the Devil? Or to another place? When was that? Were there a lot of them?
The wolves looked surprised.
- We don't know," Grant said with regret, "they just left. You're the first one to hear in years... We were hoping you'd know where people like you lived...
I sighed and shook my head. Alas... The Leader's look faded, but he immediately shaken.
- But you could have stayed with us, Vetriana. This forest is ready to be your home, and the pack will protect you and store you as the most precious thing we have.
I wasn't listening, wondering where the scheets had gone. Maybe they were my ancestors who went beyond the Line to the lands of the Northern Kingdom. Or are they other scheets, and then there's a chance there are others like me somewhere? The leader said something, and then I remembered.
- What does it mean to walk the Wolf Trail? Jared... You said you wanted to go on the wolf trail with me! Why would I do that?
Holy mother! They were embarrassed! The men took their eyes away with a little smile, and smoky Jared looked at the Leader confusedly, losing all his confidence. Lord Darrell hummed and said with an evil mockery.
- That means, Vetriana, that the Wolf is eager to... to do with you. Well, you might say in human terms you're ready to get married. By the customs of the forest, naturally.
I was surprised to see the wolf's gray eyes. That's strange... Though I guess a pack is ready to do anything to keep the one they need. Jared calmed down, looked straight ahead.
- I will take care of you," he said quietly, "all my life. If you'll let me. - Wow, his words were sincere.
I slipped my eyes thoughtfully through the white trunks. It's not bad here... and Jared is very handsome... but she answered before the cold rabies burned me from the inside.
- I'm sorry, I can't stay," the herd took a disappointed breath, "I have things to do and a house waiting for me. I have to go back.
Grant looked disgruntled, his hair slightly swollen, his back bent... But he quickly pulled himself together.
- Don't make a decision now," he said, "we invite you... and your friends to stay with us. Take a rest, look around...
- We are in a hurry," the Archarrion interrupted him and added coldly, "and I hope the pack is wise enough not to hold us by force?
I froze frightened. The flock got close, and I was alarmed. Behind the white trunks there were grey shadows... Holy elders! There are at least a hundred of them... Or more? What would they do to leave me in this forest?
> I've desperately taken a step forward.
- I can't stay! - I almost shouted, I can't, because my heart is not free! I love... another...
I don't know why I thought it was important for wolves. Maybe it's because of those eavesdropping words when I pretended I wasn't awake yet. In my world, stupidity like love wouldn't stop anyone, but wolves seem to have different laws.
Because they've stopped. The leader looked into my eyes, stood up. And he retreated.
- Our invitation remains in force," he said deafly, "if you change your mind...someday. The trail will let you through, and we will open the overlap.
He nodded briefly and, turning away, left behind the trees. The pack shut up behind him.
I was upset to sink to a warm rock. And the worst part was that I felt desperate for them, and this forest and the cooling Source. But I couldn't help them either...
* * *
The sun was rising above the forest...
My friends were walking around me, and everyone was sitting there thinking...
- Chickenpox, come on," said Lord Darrell, "there's nothing you can do for them!
I looked at him sadly.
- May I sit here for a little while?
The Archarrion frowned and looked at the white trunks. But there were no gray shadows.
- Not for long. I don't think Grant will break his word, but still...
The demon was looking at me with such a strange expression that I felt uncomfortable.
- Did you know that they were watching us?
- Of course I did. I went to ask permission to go as soon as we stepped on the wolf trail. And I got it. It's a common practice... I didn't think they recognized you as hearing...
- Isn't there anything you can do? - I asked desperately, because you can gather magicians, find a way out and save the forest!
The Archbishop and Lord Darrell have glanced over.
- It's not that simple, Vetriana," said Shyder softly, "you see... wolves are not among the nine Masters of the Underworld. They don't have the Power and Magic, the Source just promotes their life, quick healing and shape change ... Their lands are not protected by the Circle of Light and then ...
The Wind of the North Page 43