- Albie, can you get me some clothes like yours?
There was tunic on the demonica, too, but made of thick, rough fabric, and longer, almost covering her legs.
- What are you, mistress! - Your red-eyed skin was truly terrified, your skin is too soft! Besides, the lord ordered...
- All right. That's it, I couldn't take it. The phrase "Lord commanded" had already made my cheeks look like sour cowberries, and I'll go like this. Thank you.
Once again I looked at myself in the mirror and turned away. And then, after the siren floral dress, I'm not scared anymore! It doesn't matter anyway. I can't sit in this room forever. If I want to get out of here, I have to get out. And if it's customary in Chaos to dress like this... well. Let it be.
I even let Albie do my hair. Instead of my usual braids, she put thin braids on my temples and grabbed them from behind with a ribbon and left my other hair loose. The only thing I couldn't deal with was the shoes. Thin slippers decorated with stones and flowers could be considered a work of art. But running around in them was clearly not desirable. So I demanded to bring my boots.
Albie frowned, but she didn't dare to argue. So I left the room wearing silk outfits and rough leather boots.
* * *
Demonica took me down the hall of the palace. I looked at the panels on the walls, fountains in round niches, open windows, from which the warm wind came. Despite my fears, the hallways were empty, and only once did we meet a demon in uniform. When he saw us, he stepped closer, looking at me with his red eyes.
He didn't look like Rion, and I thought when I turned around, the demons looked the same... This one had wings as leathery as a bat, red eyes filled with blood, and a body almost black with no drawings. The demon greedily drew in the air without blinking, looking at me.
And when he caught the smell, he recoiled and left in a hurry. I gave him a perplexing look. And I even secretly smelled it. Maybe I smell bad.
Albie laughed funny, exposing her fangs.
- Mistress, you smell of the Lord," she explained, "other demons cannot approach you. Not even to look at you.
Holy elders! Where did I get to...
I shook my head and went after the demon girl. We never met anyone else. The demonica walked me to the high arched doors and stopped. I noticed all the doors here were huge, though that's understandable. In combat uniform, demons can't get through a small door.
- The lord is waiting for you," Albie bowed, "go. I'm not allowed in this part of the palace.
She opened the door for me, and I came in. There was another corridor, and several three-arch doors. I listened. And I caught the votes for one of them. I slowly went to the sound. I didn't want to overhear, I just wanted to find out where to look for the Archarrion. And immediately I heard his calm voice.
- Daanhar, it's been decided. And there is nothing to discuss here. The treaty must be terminated in the next turn of the moon.
- Master, I certainly dare not question your decisions, but... It is not reasonable. The treaty is already in place. You will insult the entire Black Demon clan. Their support means a lot to Chaos...
- It means even more to their clan our support, Daarhar. If the Black Demons find it an insult... well... I can cut them off from our resources. And access to the Source.
- Master... - the voice of the unknown Darkhar has become like a viper's hissing, - but you will doom the clan to death!
- I hope they will understand it as quickly as you do," said the Archharrion indifferently, "go, Daanhar. We will agree after.
I stepped away from the door quickly. Though I did not understand anything I heard, it was unpleasant to feel like a thief caught at the scene. The high doors closed, releasing the demon. He was in the shape of a man: tall, dark-haired, nose with a hunchback, and a hard predatory look of light eyes. He wore black pants, high boots and a camisole buttoned up like a military uniform. On a dark cloth, a red, fiery pattern is the spiral of a labyrinth. On the side of the scabbard with two blades. But I could feel with my gut: not human. A demon. And there's no such thing as a purple aura, with spots of the original darkness.
He stopped looking at me. In the cold transparent eyes flashed an expression that frightened me.
- Vetriana, come in," said the Archarrion calmly.
I politely nodded at the demon and walked past, feeling the way he was looking into my back. I closed the door. Apparently it was an office: a massive table, the same chair, many bookcases... A fireplace. An open window, floor to ceiling, and a wide terrace behind it.
- Who was it? - I asked cautiously.
- My dhir," said the Archarrion, looking at me and smiling, "in the Northern Kingdom, you say, Supreme Counselor. The clothes of Chaos suit you, the Vetriana. I like...
He came closer. The Archarrion also wore black pants and boots, and a simple light shirt on top. And the scabbard sheath with acanarians did not look familiar from behind shoulders, but lay on the chair.
I was embarrassed to feel the fabric of the outfit too thin. And immediately I frowned.
- I have a gift for you," said Archarrion, smiling as well, "let's go.
He went to the window and went out onto the terrace. Standing stubbornly in the middle of the room was stupid, so I followed. Downstairs the city was living its life, but the Archarrion looked up. I, too, raised my head looking up at the clouds. One of them was followed by something emerald and ruby. And it began to approach quickly, obeying the demon's conscription whistle.
- That's... Rice! - Oh, I'm out of here.
The dragon was flying fast, and it was easy to see the long neck, the head with spikes, and the sternum that was pouring red. The powerful wings were darkened, and the yellow steel was dark brown, and the lizard itself looked much larger and more massive now. But still, it was him, the dragon lost from the Eternal Forest.
Flying along the terrace, the lizard let out a thin stream of fire, bent his amber eye on us, and landed, scratching marble with his claws. The Archarrion patted the dragon on the scaly neck.
- How did he end up here? - I was amazed as I came closer. The dragon looked wary, let the steam out of his nostrils, but let himself be touched. And even tilted his head to make me feel more comfortable touching the horn plates on his face.
- He found me," Archarrion grinned, "and dragons have a strong bond with their parents, but this one seems to have decided to choose me as his family.
I carefully "listened" to the lizard. Amazing consciousness, reasonable, but the mind is so different from all I've heard before. The consciousness of the dragon was closer to the consciousness of a unicorn than that of a man or even a demon. But it was certainly not hostile. It was more curious and a little mocking.
- Shall we take a ride? - The Archarrion asked.
- On a dragon? - I didn't believe it.
- Why, are you afraid?
I looked at the Archarrion with suspicion. He was smiling and he seemed to be feeling fine. Even his eyes lightened up. Right, after passing the Source, his powers had recovered, or he was just happy to be home...
I shrugged my shoulders.
- I'm not afraid.
- Well, that's good. Well, then sit down.
Just now, I saw a long saddle between the dragon's wings, and a girth around his body. The demon lifted me up and sat me down on a lizard, tightened my straps and stirrups, adjusting them to my height. I cut it, making myself comfortable. Strange, I was not afraid at all, on the contrary, I wanted to be in the sky, to feel the rapture of flight. I also remembered the joy of flying the gryphon. I leaned forward, making contact with the lizard. I smiled as I sensed the dragon's response, as well as its desire to break away from the stone terrace and soar into the clouds.
The archharrion squeezed my leg, near my knee, looking at me from below. And he immediately took his eyes away when I looked, but I had already managed to squeeze from the hunger that had flicked into them. He put his head down and kissed my leg. He slowly walked his lips on the bare skin wher
e the tunic was ending. And he let go sharply, straightened himself out. And he sat in the saddle behind me.
- There's someone I want you to meet," he said, picking up the reins.
Obedient to his movement, Rice obediently approached the edge of the court and ... swooped down to open his huge wings as he flew, soaring into the sky! And when we climbed up to the clouds, and pure sunlight was pouring into my face, I still couldn't stand it, laughing. And the dragon was laughing with me, though silently, but I could clearly feel his fun in my head. I could also feel the fire of Chaos, which wasn't burning me with its rage, but just warming me up.
As we flew through the cloud, we still went down, circled the city. So low that I saw the astonished glances that accompanied us. Several times we were swept across the sky by black demons, guards of the sky, but when we identified our master, we quickly got out of our way.
Enjoying the flight, I still looked at the city, trying to remember the road somehow. Though I didn't know what it was for yet. But just in case, I was looking. And I was surprised at the austere yet wild beauty of Chaos. There were no fountains or blossoming gardens like Elloar. There was a clear geometry of lines and verified beauty of proportions, a combination of flickering black stone and white paths. There was red stained glass and transparent arched bridges. There were tall spires of buildings and open terraces, with clear, drawn in stone patterns, the main of which was the spiral of the labyrinth.
I noticed that this drawing was repeated everywhere in different variations: on buildings, on clothing, in the interior... even the city itself was wrapped in a spiral around its fiery heart, the Source of Power, the labyrinth of Chaos.
It's an amazing city. Alien. It's beautiful. It's not clear.
But soon it was left behind. We flew over the border of the city, flew over the river, and then the dragon soared up, heading for a dark rock beyond the valley.
- Where are we flying to? - I shouted through the wind, turning my head.
- This is Entar, the western limit of Chaos," said Archarrion. "We'll be there soon.
I nodded. And again I set my face in the wind...
After a while, the dragon went down sharply, and now the ground, covered with short brown grass, is glimpsing. Rice landed hard, I jumped in the saddle, and almost fell out. The Archarrion held me down with one hand, pressed me against him. He jumped to the ground himself and picked me up in his arms.
- We'll continue on foot," he said. "The Dragon can't land on a mountain slope, there's a narrow path. Don't worry, it's not far.
I wasn't afraid. The top was whitish with a snow cap, and I saw a wooden house on the rock.
- Shall we go there? - I figured it out. The Archarrion nodded and we took the path. I waved the dragon, thanking him for a wonderful flight. Rice responded with a jet of fire and soared into the sky.
- Ask already," the Archarrion smiled.
I frowned. Still, this merger and the foresight associated with it can be very annoying at times... But the demon is right, I have a lot of questions.
- Why was Xenia able to enter your portal? Because she's human," I started with the easiest.
- The passage of darkness is not exactly a portal," said Archarrion, walking leisurely along a rocky path, "I do not use the Force. Only the Darkness. Besides, your friend has returned from the Fringe, and I don't think she's a regular person anymore. She'll probably be able to enter an ordinary magic portal now, too.
I was happy for Ksenka.
- And why did you turn around? - I asked.
The Archarrion stopped, thoughtfully slipped his gaze on the mountain peaks.
- The question is more difficult," he grinned, "I honestly don't know. I think it's all about your strength. It's your blood. It's acting so strangely," he looked at me, "tell me, Vetriana, when was the last time you filled up the Source's reserve? Anyone?
I've been thinking. And really, when? Even the Source of the Wolf's Trail can't be called full, it was almost empty... And the rest of the time, I only drew strength from the trees. And that's not a replenishment, that's not the power that fills the Sources. So it turns out that the last time I saw a full-fledged Source was in the depths of the Free Mountains, in Graham. But did I replenish the reserve then? I was just listening... I don't think I know how it replenishes...
- A long time ago," I whispered amazingly.
The Archarrion nodded.
- That's what I thought. You don't seem to need the Source, Vetriana.
- What do you mean, you don't? - I was surprised, is that possible?
He shook his head.
- I don't know. I'm not sure. But you were able to enter the Fringe and bring Kseni's soul back into your body, and after that, all you needed to recover was two days' sleep. You're getting stronger. But your strength... it's different from everything I see. It brought back my ability to turn around without the maze of chaos. I don't know how to explain it any differently, but I think... Your power itself is like the power of the Source, the Vetriana. You know there are very few healers in the underworld, don't you? It's very difficult to give your power to others. And you do it all the time.
I was staring at him. I even wanted to laugh. But the Archharrion was too serious.
- But is that what happens?
- I'm beginning to think that in six and a half centuries I've learned nothing about life," said Archarrion with a smile.
- Six and a half centuries? - I was terrified, a nightmare.
He laughed.
- No one in the Underworld knows what the Source of Power is, the Vetriana. They've been feeding the creatures of the Abyss with the Force for thousands of years since the day the world was created. But we have never been able to understand the nature of the Sources. Perhaps only the scheets knew the answer to that question.
He looked at it calmly. We just swept above his wall, hiding the feelings of a demon from me.
- Do you know anything about them? - I quietly asked without looking at him.
- No. I was too young when we destroyed the last of them. I was only twenty-five years old, even by human standards it's not much, but by demons' standards at all... I just felt the power of fire in my blood... Then I wasn't occupied with questions about who the schetes were and how they lived... Sorry. I didn't mean to remind you.
I nodded, feeling the tears coming to my eyes. You can't remind me of something you never forget. The Archarrion stepped towards me as if he wanted to hug me, but he froze without touching me.
- Many murders have been imprinted in my blood, Vetriana. But I regret the schemes," he said, "though...it's hardly any consolation.
I nodded slowly, without raising my eyes. I didn't want to talk anymore.
- Where are we going? - I asked, not wanting to talk about it anymore. Even the joy of flying on a dragon faded, exhausted...
- I want you to meet my teacher, - Archharrion took a step back, - he taught me martial arts. His house is on a rock, he does not like society too much. Perhaps he can tell you more.
- Is he a hermit? - I was surprised.
- He's not like the others. And he doesn't like demons," the Archarrion smiled, "are you coming?
Of course I'm going.
We got to the house on the rock in a quarter of an hour, when I was already tired of walking along the narrow path and looking at the low trees with wide and fleshy leaves. It was colder upstairs, even shining on the brown grass of hoarfrost somewhere. I was eating. And in a moment we stumbled into an invisible barrier, as if we had stumbled into a transparent wall.
- A shield? - I guessed it.
- Yes," said Archarrion, and turned to the house and made a strange long sound. And immediately the shield disappeared.
- Let's go. You're completely frozen.
He took my hand and pulled me with him. I looked around with curiosity at a small wooden house, with ordinary, not three-arch doors. Is the teacher of Rion a man? Oh, that's divine... When we came to the porch, the master himself came out an
d smiled and stepped towards us.
- Rion! It's really you! Where you've been!
While the men were greeting each other, with obvious pleasure, I gazed at the master of the house on the rock.
He had long hair, the colour of which in the Wastelands is called "wolf's suit". Peggya was as if black and white had been mixed. A long nose and a scarred smile, so that it seemed as if a man was constantly mocking something. The figure is tall and wiry, and the eyes... Amber, with an elongated pupil. And he had a strange aura, it seemed that the dyes were moving in it, like in his hair: dark and light.
- Rion, did you bring a girl to visit me? - in the voice of pegogo sounded genuine surprise - a man?
- Briar, this is a special girl," said the Archarrion merrily, "Vetriana, meet my teacher, Briar. I don't give him my full name, it's still impossible to pronounce it.
The men sniffed mockingly. I was surprised to see them. I think these two really liked each other's company.
- Good day," I smiled and added, "may the abyss be kind to you.
Briar snorted at me again, looking at me with his amber eyes.
- Briar, stop staring at her, the Chickenpox is completely frozen.
- Doesn't she have the fire of chaos burning in her? - The teacher softly asked, why are you hiding it, Vetriana?
- It's... a long story," I said uncertainly.
- I love long stories," he smiled crookedly, "but Rion is right, let's go inside. You're shivering. The human body is so fragile...
And led with his hand, inviting him.
Inside the house, I looked around with curiosity. The situation is very simple, though kind. Simple furniture made of the same light wood, a table full of papers and mysterious vials, a fireplace. This last one attracted me most because it had a bright, lively flame burning in it, and I reached for the fire to get warm.
The archpriest came up from behind, threw a huge wolfskin on my shoulders, covered with a soft cloth from the inside.
The Wind of the North Page 58