- First you have to get there," I said, "so... We need to find my friends. Call the griffin. I'm sorry, Antashar, but you'll have to help me. I don't want to force you, but... It's too important. I'm sorry. I have to save Xenia...
He leaned towards me, his breath became intermittent, heavy. Melted silver and pleasure trembled in my eyes.
- Determination. Courage. Despair. Hope. Wine. Joy. Self-sacrifice. Pain. Lubo-o-oh..." he whispered, "Vetriana. I'm going to go crazy.
- Don't drink my emotions like that," I resented.
- I can't," Antashar smiled as if a cat had rushed to a pitcher of cream, "you're too attractive to me. I can't get away...
- Call the griffin," I sighed, "and... change your face. You're welcome.
- Embarrassed. Sensuality... Mmm... Delicious... I can give you great pleasure, my sweet... Just say the word.
- Shut up," I exhaled and went to the exit. I guess my cheeks could have been burned. The Faceless Laughed at the back. All those unfamiliar words that Lord Darrell used so often were spinning on his tongue. But I held back.
* * *
Obeying the invisible order of Antashar, the familiar gryphon descended on the site. Next to me stood a shadow again, painted with a black cloak. I sighed. Communicating with the emptiness is not very pleasant, and the voice is terrible, but at least in this form Faceless does not cause any emotion. Their magic in this form doesn't seem to work. Maybe it's the true appearance of the Faceless.
- How far are we going to fly?
- Not very... The Caves of Memory are in the south of the valley. Get in the front.
I put my hand on the skin of the griffin and sat down. Antashar set up in the back and pulled the reins. The griffin took off.
And again, this feeling of happiness from the flight that I couldn't hold back. I woke up, realizing that it wasn't the Shadow who hugged me, but the blonde again.
- Antashar, stop it!
- I can't, - he kissed me on the neck, - I have not felt so many feelings as I have today, in my whole life... It's so beautiful. If I could hide you from everyone and not give you to anyone...
- I would have died," I meant what I said.
- Now you're hurt... I didn't mean to," he said and took his hands off. I looked over my shoulder. Black hood and Shadow again.
- You didn't hurt me," I wondered, "maybe you felt someone else.
The Shadow did not move. I shook my shoulders and looked forward. The gryphon was coming down.
A mountain range stretched beneath us. Small rocks covered with low mud trees and shrubs. The moonlight was combing the area with strokes and shadows, drawing an intricate pattern. The shadows moved as if they were alive... or maybe they were alive.
- Antashar, the Faceless down there? - I whispered with fright.
- Don't be afraid," he whispered, "but the observers... They won't hurt you.
The Griffin landed gently, and I slipped off the saddle. I had in front of me a cave: its dark entrance was ink against a rock.
- The path to the lord goes through the cave..." Antashar said, "Come on. Your friends are there.
I nodded and hurried to the entrance. The dark fire of Chaos was burning more and more intensely in me, burning my gut. It could no longer be held back by my defense, the flame roared in me, tormented by its dark and fierce power.
The Archarrion was angry.
A faceless man touched my hand.
- What is wrong with you? - in his voice - the rustle of surprise - something terrible appeared in your feelings...
- These aren't my feelings, Antashar, I accelerated the move, these are the feelings of the Lord of Chaos. Let's go quickly.
- Are you connected to him? - He figured it out.
I took a swing. There's no explanation now. Time is running out... I've already lost precious moments while questioning Faceless. It was dark inside the cave, and I froze, trying to discern something.
- Let's go...
- Where to? I can't see anything!
- Seychass...
I squeezed myself because there was a ball of fire under the ceiling, a glowing ball of light, which swam after us, should we have gone ahead. The cave was a passageway in the rock. My anxiety increased, and I almost ran, tripping a little on the unevenness of the stone floor. I could hardly look around, only the edge of my eye marked dark drawings on the walls. The runes. Here they were everywhere, from floor to ceiling...
I heard the sound of battle in a couple of dozen fathoms. The clanking of metal, the heavy blows of blades... The rest of the corridor I just flew through, and when I broke into the wide hall, I froze.
It was light from the many glowing balls, the walls completely covered with runes, which glow slightly blue and give off a tangible cold. Dead tongue... And in the center of the hall...
The gaze immediately caught on Xenie's still figure lying in the center. The spark of her life flickered palely. Around her, Lord Darrell, Danila and Archarrion stood with their backs to each other. And they fought with themselves. Two dozen of their own copies attacked my friends. Here fell Danila, struck by the sword of Shader. And Shyder himself bent down, choking on blood... There lies the dead Archarrion... It looked like a delirium, a nightmare, a terrible dream... The real and the fakes were shifting, mixed up and I couldn't understand who the real thing was...
- Aura... - Antashar slipped.
Of course! Aura! I looked and sighed more freely. All my friends were alive.
I threw my palm, gathering my strength at my fingertips.
- It won't work," said Faceless, "the rune of suppressing sssiła... The magic of destruction is undeniable...
- Holy elders! - I woke up helplessly watching the battle, - what to do?
And then I saw myself. And I froze, astonishedly looking at my living reflection. White hair down to my waist. Blue wide open eyes. A triangle face. Thin figure in a dark gray dress. Skinny wrists, in sleeves... My double turned his head looking at me.
- Chickenpox? - Antashar slipped.
- I imagined myself in a different way," I said confusedly, unable to get away from the trouble. I pinched my hand. It helped.
- Antashar! What should I do? We have to help my friends! Can you do that?
- They're doing it themselves," the Faceless has rumbled, "The Dark, strong warrior... Even without his essence.
It's true that the balance of power has changed. Now the Archharrion and Lord Darrell are coming, and the Faceless, those who are left, are retreating. The dark shadows were sliding away from the demon's blue blades. A few more moments and the doppelgangers were gone, wrapped in black cloaks, and hurriedly slipped away from the hall. Only empty pieces of rags were left in place of the wounded and killed.
- Danila, you almost punched my head in! - I'm sorry, Shyder said.
- I thought it was Faceless," the guy replied, wiping blood coming out of a broken nose.
- Chickenpox? - I was surprised, said Lord Darrell. He looked at my doppelganger. Then he looked at me again. Danila rounded her already round eyes, they became like two bad eyes. The Archarrion, without even looking back at my living reflection, came to us. And I did not like the vertical pupil in his yellow eyes at all. And the akanars that he kept clutching in his palms. Maybe the demon thought I was a doppelganger and decided to kill me. Oh, the sky...
- Rion, it's me. The real one," I said scared as I retreated.
- I don't doubt it," he whispered through his teeth, "I'll talk to you later.
And without warning, he bladed Antashar in the chest. I cried out. The faceless ducked by some miracle, but still a little late... There was a rift on the black cloak, from which dark blood flowed out of the void.
- Rion, don't! Stop it!
Of course, the Archharrion didn't hear me. Swing again. Briefly, even as if lazy... The black shadow of the Faceless flowed a few steps forward, and out of it came... orc. Huge greenish - brown torso in leather pants, numerous weapons on his belt, bald head with twisted nostrils,
small evil eyes and a strongly advanced lower jaw and yellow fangs sticking out near his thick lips.
Between the ribs of the orc there was a wound with brown blood flowing. The orc pulled out the daggers and threw them at the demon. The archharrion deflected at lightning speed, both blades stuck to the stone wall and fell to the floor. The demon turned to the orc, and now there was only one desire in his yellow eyes - to kill... Even it was clear to me that the Faceless had no chance against the Dark One.
After taking a deep breath, as before jumping into the whirlpool, I stepped from my back to Archharrion, and hung on his arm.
- Rion, please! Stop it! He'll help us!
The demon didn't hear me. He didn't hear me at all. Shoved me off my arm like an annoying nuisance... Again with the punch. Antashar dodged, but the blue blade drew a bloodline on him again. This time on his shoulder. I thought the demon was playing as if it was stretching pleasure before the last punch.
- Rion!
It's no use. I watched with despair as a huge orc retreating from yellow fangs drooling. The whole side is already covered in blood.
I got more air again. I froze. And I broke all the barriers inside me, letting the fire of chaos in. And hurriedly, until the rage of Archarrion burned me, reaching out to him. And I choked with an avalanche of his feelings... Too strong, too burning, too inhuman... They were almost impossible to withstand. I clenched my teeth and closed my eyes. We have to get to him... Get to him, reach him, make him hear! While Antashar is still alive.
I slipped through the emotions of the Archarrion, feeling a splinter in a mad storm. Holy Mother! How many emotions... Deadly, cruel, destructive! A mad tornado of devastating and incredible power. How do we contain it?
Again and again I spilled cold water on his senses, beat the icy wind, wrapped in fluffy snow... Don't, - I whispered, - leave him... Don't kill him.
She woke up from silence and opened her eyes with fear. Antashar is still sitting on the floor in the guise of an orc, and a puddle of blood has already poured out beside him. And next to me is the Archarrion.
- You're protecting him? - He quietly asks, why?
- He will help us. Without a guide, we cannot reach the Lord of Souls!
The Archharrion smiled. He shook his head.
- Rion, please! Don't kill him! - I touched his hand carefully, don't. A faceless man will not hurt us. He... he gave me his real name," I whispered, no doubt the demon knows what it means.
His eyes became dark in an instant.
- Wow," he said with a smile, "was it that good?
I shuddered, knowing exactly what he meant. My throat was compassionate with resentment. Immediately the demon threw me out of its consciousness, hard, so that my head exploded with pain. I was breathing deeply, trying to cope with the tears.
- Chickenpox! - Danila ran up, looked into my eyes. Lord Darrell came too, squinting, looking at the back of the Archarrion.
- Are you all right? - He asked abruptly. I nodded.
- It turns out I was right... There was an illusion near us, - he shook his head, - I've never seen such a fake. It was a masterpiece. Only reacts in the wrong way.
- To what? - Without much interest, I asked. For some reason, Shyder was embarrassed and sighed.
- Nothing... Forget it.
I forgot. And I hurriedly approached the bleeding orc. Wow, my eyes are strange and my eyes are familiar. Like a blonde.
- Tell me, does the magic of destruction not work here? - I asked, what about the healing?
- I don't know," Antashar said hoarsely, "no one has tried. Why, do you have an extra healer willing to share his life? - He grinned.
The laughter on the ugly Orc's face looked frightening. I nodded and sat down next to him. I put my palms on his chest. I couldn't see the auras of the Faceless, and it bothered me. Can I help? Well, there was a lot of Power here. It was shivering on the runes with cold glitter, glowing in the air with torn threads. I gathered it together, woven it together with my inner Power and poured it into the Faceless. Antashar sighed convulsively. Beneath my fingers, the wound of orca began to heal, to join the edges, to overgrow... The blood stopped.
I smiled satisfactorily.
- Who are you, Vetriana? - the orc asked me hoarsely. Melted silver trembled in the little eyes.
- Walk us to the one who opens the Edge," I said quietly, "please.
Antashar nodded slowly. He came up from the floor with a hooded hooded figure.
- I'll help, but the halls will still have to pass, Vetriana. There's simply no other way. Excuse me... And thank you...
I went up to Xena. The spark of her life was so pale that it was almost indistinguishable behind the bright light of the runes.
- The kiss of the darkness..." Behind my back, Faceless, "her soul is already behind Edge...
- I know," I snapped, "that's why I have to go in there! Danila, can you carry Xenia?
The guy nodded and silently picked up my friend's still body. I tried not to look at the Archarrion at all. He locked himself up, fenced off the wall, only the evil fire that scared me trembled in his eyes.
And Lord Darrell looked frowning, apparently wondering where I was and why the demon was so angry. But I was not touched by Schader's thoughts or Archarrion's speculations. All my thoughts were occupied by Xenia. Too frightened by her darkness, her immobility, her lack of a sigh, her lack of a current of blood... I remembered Riverstein, the day it all began, when Xenia was ill with Ink Rot. Now we have to fix it...
I resolutely turned to the dark figure in the cape.
- Where to go? - I asked the Faceless.
- Follow me...
Lord Darrell stood up unheard.
- Do you trust him? - He asked with suspicion. I nodded and followed Danila and Antashar in a hurry. I looked back at my double. My reflection was slowly melting, becoming semi-transparent until it completely disappeared. I twisted my shoulders. Still, looking at myself from the outside is not a pleasant thing to do.
- The Ancients had set up a trap hall on the way to the Lord of Souls - Antashar had swept through, - it was impossible to pass them all and stay alive - nobody had passed... But I will pass the shortest way, through three halls... So you have a chance...
- It's more like time is running out," I recalled. The faceless slipped forward. I looked back at the Archarrion. He followed us silently, his face calm, but the darkness in his eyes makes him want to hide.
Behind the hall of memory was the same passage, exhausted by the runes. Several times we met branches to the side, and if it had not been for Antashar, we would have got lost in two dozen steps. The faceless man glided confidently in front, a lazy ball of light floating from above. Sometimes the corridor narrowed heavily, and had to follow each other, stretching a chain. I kept looking at Xenia with great anxiety. Sometimes I thought that the spark had faded.
- Quickly," I whispered to the Faceless. Danila turned pale when she heard me, and almost ran.
- The Hall of Ssurer," Antashar exhaled.
We did not enter the huge room, ran away. And at once I was blinded by the dawn sun, the screams and groans deafened. Everything had disappeared.
I was standing alone. Behind my back there was maple noise, the gentle morning sun warmed me with its tender warmth. A small house, wrapped in a wild rose. A wooden fence of light birch. A fire slowly licking the straw roof. Black demon wings... bloody blades... blue-eyed schetes.
My nightmare. My terrible dream. My fear.
- Close your eyes," someone whispers in my ear, though I see no one, "Close your eyes, Vetriana...
I'm closing in obediently.
- It's also an illusion... Everyone sees what they fear most... Fear can kill... Or drive them crazy... Do you hear me? - I nodded. The horror that squeezes the heart and paralyzes the will has receded a little. I felt a warm hand squeeze my palm.
- I'll drink your insurance, you'll feel better...
I nodded obediently again. Even with my eyes closed
, I could hear people screaming as they died. I could smell the blood. But gradually the sensations pale, smeared. And in a few moments, I could open my eyes.
We were standing in an empty hall, the furrows of runes on the walls pale. Danila was sitting on the floor and seemed to be swinging one of his visible birds.
- Get out of here, you flying bastards! - he shouted, - ooh... I hate crow!!!!
But even now, he hasn't let Xenya go, he's pressed against himself, trying to close. The Archarrion stood still, his dark eyes looking into the void. And one Abyss knows exactly what he sees there. Suddenly the demon shook his head, squeezed the handles of the acanar, so that his fingers whitened, and he looked at us consciously.
- Sssilen," Antashar whispered displeasedly.
- And the snakes..." Daniel said, crying behind me, "I hate...
- Danila! - I exclaimed as I sank down next to her, do you hear me?
- He won't hear," the Archarrion sat down next to him, looking at the guy's skewed face. "Everyone has to overcome his own fear.
- But I heard the Faceless!
- Because you know the name," said the demon coldly.
I grabbed Daniela's hand, but he twitched and stared at me in terror, not seeing.
- Get out," he yelled, "undead!!!
At the edge of my eye I noticed Shader. He was muttering, spinning around the room senselessly. Then he stopped and shouted out some kind of spell. Freeze, wipe sweat off his forehead.
- Sol mo mochur," he said outraged, "is an old rural man. Barda!
And I was relieved to know that Lord Darrell was all right. It was Danila who stayed. I slowly covered him with the Force without touching him. I woven a protective cocoon and covered the boy with it. Shider sat down next to us and started helping me. Threads of power sparkled in his hands like gilding.
- Danila, wake up! - I prayed, and it was as if he had heard me shudder. He looked at us in surprise.
- I'm so tired of this! - He said with a feeling, as he was coming up, we'll save Ksenka and go straight home! Well him to the left of your world! Ugh! All the deceptions around!
The Wind of the North Page 54