Perhaps Archarrion's right, it does take rain to muffle that smell.
I opened my eyes slowly. Lord Darrell sleeps on the ground, the others are right on horses. Even the Archarrion is asleep.
I looked at the thin protective dome that trembled over me. It won't last long... We've got to hurry. I reached out to the field in my mind, but the sweet smell stirred me up, made me crazy.
- Echo, help me!
The air beast was anxiously rushing over the field, wrapped around me, knocking down the smell with all its might. Then a small whirlwind rushed to the forest, scooped moss and oak leaves, and threw them on my head, and then wrapped me around with the scent of the forest. It got easier, and I closed my eyes again. I quickly wiped the memory out: we're in Riverstein, and little Ksenka sings me her grandmother's song because I'm scared and I can't sleep. Ksenia has no voice or hearing, and she forgot half the words, but the song makes me feel fun and easy...
The clouds had a hard time wrapping themselves up, not wanting to swim over a field of red flowers. I pushed her hard in the wind side, and she gave up. The dark shadow ran over the silver grass, the red flowers restlessly shaking their petals. I raised my face looking at the cloud hovering over me. Another memory: the same Xenia, but already an adult, swinging on the palm of his hand acanar, watching with anger...
- It's raining! - I shouted, and inside the cloud there was a flash of lightning, thunder, and large rain drops sprinkled on the field like pea. And the red flowers slammed at once, closed their petals. A heavy madman, hanging in the air, washed away with water and washed away with the wind.
- Why," said Lord Darrell, as he rose, "am I wet again? Well, how wet can I be?
- But alive," said Archarrion lazily, "is everyone awake?
Xenia and Danila clapped their eyes in astonishment, trying to understand what had happened.
- Oh, so that's what the dome was for! - "guessed" Danila," Lord Darrell, "how did you know it would rain? Well, it was good, the flowers bloomed...
- Oh, you oak," Xenia sighed, "we all fell asleep because of those flowers!
I exhaled, letting go of the cloud that had been holding the airloop like a dog on a tie. The last time she splashed water angrily, she sailed away. I wiped the rain off my face and laughed. And everyone joined me. First uncertain, then full voice! So we just watched the cloud go away and laughed.
- Durman pulled away," said Shaider, laughing as he wiped his wet eyes.
Then we stabbed the horses until the red flowers opened their crazy petals again.
* * *
I soon realized that without the Archarrion, there was no way we could have found the lake of sirens. The eternal forest was beautiful and deceptive at the same time. The forest spirits mixed up the directions and paths, lured us into the impassable thicket or ravine. The sirens themselves did their best, covering the lake with drizzle, taking away the eyes of uninvited guests. But Archharrion navigated in the forest well and confidently led us along a curved path until we came out near the familiar to me care.
Xenia and Danila looked at the small marshy lake, slightly covered with mud. And we snorted a snort equally mockingly.
Spider did not snort, looked carefully, led with his hand. Under his palm the air trembled, and a small window opened, in which we saw the true picture: a huge lake with a tower of water rising in the center, and many long tailed bodies in the depths.
Danila ahnul, and Xenia stopped smiling and looked astonished.
- It's not real, is it? - Whispering, she asked, isn't it?
I nodded. The green mud was hanging by the beach, a light ripple was running down the water. Willows bowed their silver heads low, leading thin branches with narrow leaves along the lake like sad maidens. A light breeze moved the frock, and there was no sound on the banks, no silence...
- How about we see mermaids? - whispered to Daniel, too.
- There is no way," said the Archarrion, "if they don't want to, we won't see them.
- Can they see us?
- They can see us? Of course they can.
Danila went to eat and looked around with fear. I understood him, but it's not very nice to be seen by someone invisible.
- The sirens don't seem to be in a hurry to meet us," Spider sighed.
We looked at the lake with hope again. Only the willows rustle, and the mud trembles.
- Chickenpox! - suddenly there was a ringing voice.
And immediately the lake swam, clouded like mica, and disappeared. Morok was gone, a crystal tower swept over the huge lake, and I smiled at the Solmea shore.
- Chickenpox! - she exclaimed again, - what are you doing here? I've been looking for you, but your path leads nowhere, it breaks!
I gladly looked at the young mermaid. She had grown older, her eyes greener, like her hair, and her silver flakes darker. Since our last meeting Solmeya has noticeably changed, now I was no longer a teenager, but a young girl.
- Solmeya, I am so glad to see you! You've become such an adult! When did you get there? - I was truly surprised.
- The sirens grow up in one night, Vetriana," she smiled, "what are you doing here?
- I came to ask them a question. Tell me, can I do it?
- I don't know," the siren answered. "It's up to them to decide who he answers and who he doesn't. And only the Mistress can give permission to enter the whirlpool.
- And where is Mayira? Can we see her?
Solomyia shone with her cold eyes.
- The Mistress does not like the Dark One. She doesn't like the Dark. She doesn't like people either, and immediately she smiled slylyly, but I'll say you're my guests! After all, it's been too long since the Games had a spectator!
I noticed Shader's astonished look, and even the calm Archarrion looked surprised. So I decided to be more specific.
- At the Games? What do you mean?
- It's Creation Day, Vetriana! The Heavenly Luminaries have made one more circle in eternity, it means that the time of the Games has come," said Solmeya solemnly, as if it explained everything. I did not understand anything of what had been said, but they did not give me any explanation. The siren eagerly slammed her tail on the water surface, spraying her with glowing splashes.
- Follow me," she said.
We didn't have time to be amazed or even ask exactly how and where to go, because a shimmering translucent bridge had risen above the mirror of the lake, from which the water was flowing. Solomyia pulled up easily in her arms and climbed ashore. Her scales melted, showing us a beautiful maiden's body, which was tightened with algae right before our eyes, as if it were a fancy living outfit.
Danila looked at this miracle frankly delighted, his eyes just like two saucers. Ksenka snorted and vengeful stepped on his foot with her shoe.
- Ouch! - the guy exclaimed and woke up, took his eyes away from Solmea. The siren smiled mockingly and turned away gracefully, stepping on the ghostly bridge.
As we glanced over, we followed.
It was a strange sensation. The bridge was shaking a little beneath us, and the water of the lake, the flocks of floating fish, and the pale mermaid faces looking out of the depths could be clearly seen through it. On the cold faces of the sirens there was still a glimmer of surprise when they saw us, and with their tail whipping irritably through the water, they quickly went to the bottom. But then they resurfaced again to guide us with wary and disgruntled looks. Solmey's eyes did not respond in any way, walking silently ahead, proudly turning his narrow shoulders. The long hem of the algae dress sailed behind her, and I tried not to step on it. I stepped on it once, looking into the thick of the lake below us. A piece of the siren came off the hem, but it hadn't even turned around, because the rift immediately had been overgrown with new algae, and mermaids had even blossomed on their shoulders and backs like lake lilies.
So I understood Danila, who couldn't take his eyes off the siren.
The closer we got to the tower, the darker the water of the lake below us got, a
nd near the tower it was just black as ink. Silvery narrow bodies, which were rapidly floating in its depth, seemed to be swift and cold blades.
We stopped at the waterfall that hid the entrance to the tower.
- My guests, Im's guests, chanted as Solmea sang and waved the water with her hands as if it were curtains.
And we entered.
And we got into a huge hall, with a billion sparkling walls, endlessly going into the sky. There was no roof here, and the sun's rays slid unobstructedly on the walls, shattering in the air with little rainbows.
There was no floor, either, and there was water covered in a matte haze that was terrible to walk on. But Solmeius was moving forward calmly and, having shaken a little, we followed. And we stopped, because the lady of the lake, Mayra, was sliding on the floor as if on ice. And even though her beautiful face was as cold and calm as rock crystal, I realized that the siren was furious.
- Solmeya," the mistress's calm voice struck like a whip, "did you bring strangers to the Games?
- I brought guests to the Games," replied the young mermaid serenely, keeping her eyes on the Mistress' icy eyes.
- Guests? You call the Lord of Darkness and human magicians guests? You let your enemies into them!
Solmeius raised her chin even higher.
- The war is long over, Mayira," she said, "it is time for the sirens to stop living in the past. The Lord of Darkness is not our enemy, you know.
- You're not the Mistress to decide! - Mayira's voice was already ringing like ice shards.
- Not yet the Mistress," said Solmea calmly, "and as heir and participant, I have the right to invite guests to the Games. Today I have exercised my right.
Maira looked at us with an arrogant look, and without answering or even nodding she turned around and left. Solmey's shoulders were a little shaky. I gently touched her cold palm.
- I'm sorry you had to quarrel with Mayora because of us," I said with remorse.
The mermaid drove her shoulder a little.
- We've been living too long with the wall of the world, Vetra," she said. "Mayira doesn't understand that Chaos is better for allies than enemies. Like the Guardian of the reborn Source," she smiled slyly.
- How do you know that? - I was surprised.
- The essence of the siren is water, Vetriana, have you forgotten? Water knows everything!
- One day you will be a great hostess," I smiled. Only Solmeya somehow darkened by these words. Then she shaken her green hair, which is why the lilac flowers bloomed in it, and smiled. She turned to the companions standing aside.
- You are the first guests at the Creation of the World Games in many years," she said, "I hope the Games will entertain you. Come with me.
We followed her on the transparent floor. In the center were steps made of crystal, and above them we saw a platform overlooking the entire hall. And the hall itself became much more animated. Sirens were flowing into it from all sides. They were rising out of the water, changing their scales for living dresses, entering through the waterfall, and through the high arches that appeared in the walls. Most mermaids climbed the platform, taking up seats on crystal seats. Some of them did not pay any attention to us, or cast an arrogant glance on us, while others were curious.
We also sat down on the seats, looking around in surprise. Shader sat down on the right and shone with his nutty eyes in anticipation.
- I couldn't have imagined that I'd ever be at the Sirens Game! - He said enthusiastically," I've read about them in treatises, but few can boast that I've seen the sight alive!
I nodded distractedly, looking out for Solmea in the rows of beautiful mermaid faces. Leaving us, she vanished into the crowd without saying when she would return. I was also concerned about Mayira, her displeasure at our arrival. Will she allow us to go down to them? I anxiously looked back at Xenia. My friend looked at the mermaids with a stopped look and frowned.
The archpriest stayed standing, a little wary looking at the shining hall.
- Where had Solmea gone? - I asked anxiously.
- She is a participant," Rion answered.
- A participant?
He turned away from the hall and sat down next to it.
- Solmei is a participant in the Games," he said, "which means that she will fight today.
- Fighting? Fight with whom? - I was frightened.
He nodded at the floor of the hall.
- Look.
The foggy floor got even darker, and then disappeared, revealing the dark water of the lake. A light spark was shaking in its depth, it was all approaching, and then a narrow edge, on which Mayira stood, slowly rose to the surface. The thin body of the Mistress was covered with a white cloth, wide waves spreading over the water surface. And as she moved, I realized that it was not a cloth, but countless white flowers, so thin and tender that their petals shone into the light. Long hair floated freely in the air, and her forehead was crowned with a narrow hoop with a white matt stone in the center.
She raised her hand, and it was so quiet in the great hall that she could hear the shimmering walls and the sound of water.
- Daughters of water and light, silver drops of Lake Im! - Mayira said and added arrogantly, "And the guests who came to the Hall of Purity! I, Mistress of the Lake, welcome you to the Games of the Creation of the World! May the road of the heavenly bodies continue in eternity, and the sirens remain unchanged! May the purity and coldness of water fill our souls, and may the Games determine the worthiest!
She slammed her hands sharply and the narrow border on which she stood, swam and stopped in front of our platform. The hostess stood for another moment, looking at the hall with her transparent eyes, and sat down on a crystal throne that had grown on the edge.
And immediately the center of the water drilled, darkened, went in slow circles, all accelerating, and the water formed a bubbling black vortex!
Above the whirl there was a narrow platform, not wider than a couple of elbows, standing on one support in the center. And on this platform, trembling with every movement, two sirens came out simultaneously. On the right was a tall mermaid with long intertwined dark green hair, dressed only in two sparkling stripes on the chest and thighs. On the left is Solmeya. She was also wearing only scales, leaving almost the whole body open. Both girls held thin long sticks with pointed ends.
I unwittingly gave in.
The sirens froze for a moment, and then the green-haired girl threw her hand sharply, so that the thin stick wrapped around her fingertips and hit her with Solme! Or rather, she tried to hit it, because the siren abruptly leaned back, almost touching the head of the platform, and then bent back and one blow of the stick blew her opponent into the water!
I exhaled, but immediately two new rivals came out from both sides of the platform and simultaneously attacked the mermaid!
The narrow platform under the sirens moved from each of them not as a step - a waving of the hand. Thin sticks cut through the air like a whip.
I was spellbound as I looked at the fight, suddenly realizing that the girls on the platform were not human. No human could ever move like that, with incredible grace, as if flowing from one body position to another. It was stunningly beautiful. But then one of the sirens turned on her socks, swung her hand, and two sharp spikes, thin and sharp, like a sting, popped out of her stick on both sides. The other one did the same, and I realized it wasn't a dance. It's a battle, a real battle!
I unwittingly cried out when a sharp sting came out of Solmea's face.
- Don't be afraid," said Archarrion quietly, "it's a game, not a fight. No one is going to die today.
I was astonished to look at him.
- The duel?
- A duel for the right to become Mistress of the Lake.
I thought about what I heard, and I turned pale.
- So if Solmeya wants to be Mistress, she has to kill Mayira? Just like that? With this... stick? - I was slow to clarify.
- It's a kadavr," said Archharrio
n calmly, "not a stick. A kadavr. Battle weapons of sirens. And yes, you have understood everything correctly.
I looked at it for a moment and then turned to Lord Darrell, who was sitting on the other side.
- Shaider, did you know that sirens kill each other in fights like this?
- What? - He took his eyes off the spectacle and looked perplexed. - Oh, right, of course. I read about it.
- And what do you think about it?
He thought, not knowing what I want from him.
- Well, if you think about it, it's cruel, of course," said Lord Darrell, "but it's their tradition. Besides, it's so beautiful...
I looked at him in astonishment. Then I looked at the Archarrion. I guess I'll never understand men!
There are no men, though! The sirens themselves looked at the rivals downstairs with cold interest and without the slightest worry. Of course, it was just a game, but something told me that mermaids would also sit quietly waiting for the results. Although, maybe their imperturbability is just a mask?
Meanwhile, one of the girls on the platform below could not resist and, shouting deafly, fell into the whirlpool. Flexiblely turning, Solmeya cut the rest of her rival and swung the cadaver. The siren slowly blew a strip of blood on her white body, and I was even surprised that mermaids had the same red blood as humans. Bending her head, admitting defeat, the siren went off the stage.
Solomyia was left alone, raised her head looking at the spectators. When I caught her gaze, I smiled encouragingly. The siren did not answer.
- Is that it? - I asked Archarrion, did she win?
- Not yet.
I looked down anxiously again. There was another siren on the narrow platform. The scales were as narrow as the others, with a cadaver in hand and braided hair. So I didn't even recognize the lake owner right away.
Maira went on the offensive, barely approaching, without Solmea a moment's thought. Two thin figures were circling the platform as if two silverfish, the censers in their hands gleaming at such a speed that I could not keep track of them. The platform was shaking underneath them, swinging from their movements, whirling, twisting the water in a black spiral. The sun's rays sparkled on the walls and reflected from the scales of mermaids. Cadaver's thin stings glistened, and from the speed of their movements they formed a sparkling line in the air.
The Wind of the North Page 49