Apparently, Rion was right, and Briar missed society.
- I can't do this anymore! - I begged you, give me a break!
My teacher nodded with obvious regret.
- Okay, half an hour. It's a pleasure to work with your Power, Vetriana! - He was smiling.
- I noticed," I glumly answered, but still answered his smile without holding back. I liked Briar, despite his obvious desire to squeeze the last of my juices out!
- I'll get some air," I said, "I don't want to sit indoors.
- Okay," he agreed, "but... Don't go far, there's a shield on the trail. It's for safety.
- Of course," I bowed my head and picked up my fur cover. For safety. And so I wouldn't run away.
I walked slowly along the path, watching from afar a powerful tree growing at the edge of a cliff. There were few trees in the chaos, and I missed the pure power flowing in the tree trunks.
- For half an hour," Briar shouted at me.
I waved without turning around.
The tree had brown broad leaves that were unusual to my eye, and a subtle bitter smell, but the currents in its bark were familiar. I sat with my cheek pressed against the smooth light bark, swaying a little on the warm threads of power that had entangled the tree. But I couldn't stay long, I wanted to walk, to stretch. Look around.
As I supposed, the shield was two-sided, not letting me out on the path. I gently touched the resilient but firm wall. And I walked along it, looking at the house, pretending I was just walking. I don't know how well I did it, but Briar never left the house. Although I didn't leave feeling like I was watching...
And suddenly...
I saw it. Five steps away from me, a ball of Power slowly emerged. Jagged, with threads sticking out as if chopped and interrupted, uneven filling... Pale, almost indistinguishable, it slowly appeared in the air. I suffocated, not believing in such luck. Overlapping. That was exactly it! Floating, unstable, already starting to go out in the frosty air...
And without thinking, I rushed to him, hurrying to get there before the entrance closed. And as I fell into the closed space, I heard Briar's desperate, frightened scream...
* * *
I ended up in a wasteland. I was surrounded by yellow sand, sometimes diluted with islands of brown and yellow vegetation, with black shards of stones sticking out of it. Some quite large, the size of a house. The shimmering veins in the rock reminded me of the stone from which the buildings in Chaos were built. Maybe I ended up in the quarries. I wouldn't want to... I was hoping that the overlap would take me away from Chaos, somewhere closer to the Northern Kingdom or at least the Wolf's Path.
I shook off the sand and walked slowly, looking around. At first glance, the area seemed lifeless. There were hardly any trees, just rocks. The brown grass was squelching wetly as my boots stepped on it, and I tried to bypass it.
- Is anybody there? - I shouted softly.
- ...somebody... - an echo echo echoed, reflecting off the rocks. And I also found out that my beast of air wasn't around, apparently it didn't slip into the passage. It upset me so much that there were tears in my eyes, but I was hoping that the spirit might find me...
I almost missed the appearance of a dark figure. It came out so silently that I didn't even have time to be scared. Demon. In combat uniform. He stepped on me, sniffing like a dog. And then he woke up and he threw himself at me!
The power came out of my palms before I had time to think, throwing the demon away. He roared up in the air, growling, which made my hair stand up and rushed to me again. I hit him again, but the black claws still reached out, rinsed on my shoulder, and ripped my skin apart with three bloody grooves. I screamed. More like from fear, because I looked into the red eyes of a demon. There was nothing human in them. No. There was nothing reasonable about them... At all. It was a wild beast, and its only purpose was to kill, tear to shreds...
I hit him again, throwing him back, and I dodged again at the very last moment. My back flashed with pain from his claws. His palms were covered with blood and his fingers were numb, badly listening. And then another demon showed up from behind the boulders. And then there was another demon. And a few more... They crawled out from behind the black rocks, two, three dozen mad predators with no mind... And with a strange calm I realized where the overlap had thrown me. The outer circle of chaos.
- Rion," I whispered as I saw the demons duck before throwing them, the greedy smell of my blood, the purple light burning in my eyes...
The Archarrion stepped out of the darkness a moment before they were thrown. The demons froze, wary of his figure. But the balance of power was clearly not in our favor. Just one demon in human form against three dozen... I almost moaned in my voice, seeing that Rion didn't even have his blades with him. He was barefoot, wearing the same pants, his hair wet. His eyes quickly examined my torn, blood-soaked shirt.
- Close your eyes, Vetrjana," he said, turning his back on me. The darkness crawled across his body, and I decided that the Archarrion would turn around. But no. The darkness crawled upon his hands as the demons from all sides rushed towards us. The darkness poured across the sand, dripping with Archharrion's palms like mercury, black snakes crawled in all directions. Blaming demons, squeezing them with poisonous snares, crawled into their eye sockets and opened their mouths in the agonizing scream... squeezing life out of them. Killing them. I've never seen anything more terrible in my life...
It's only now that I know what it means to own the Dark. What did Dagamar mean when he spoke of the darkness living in the Archharrion. And how Rion could stand up to the Khanthor...
It just had as much original darkness as the ancient monster.
The black snake got to me, circled me with a death ring... and let me go. Rion abruptly turned around, and I choked to death looking into his empty, black eyes.
- Why don't you ever listen to me," he said, picking me up in his arms.
We came out of the transition again in the bedroom. The archpriest laid me on the bed, leaning his hands against the bedspread.
- Now. Don't look," he said quietly, without raising his head. And he breathed hoarsely, hard. The darkness was still flowing out of his eyes, wrapped around his body, greedily licked his skin. My back and shoulder were whining, blood was absorbed into the light blanket, but I could hardly feel it. The primordial fear of the primordial darkness filled the soul with horror, stifling the body with uncontrollable panic. My whole being rebelled against this darkness, trying to hide, to escape... I took a deep breath trying to contain the fear.
The Archarrion moved and stood up. He turned his back on me.
- I'll send a physician," he said slowly, and came out without looking at me.
* * *
When I was examined by a grey doctor with a clingy and attentive look, I kept silent. And then, when Albie smeared her wounds with a potent potion, promising that there would be no marks on my skin, I did not come into conversation either. Demon was clearly upset, and she even looked at me with her lips pressed. She seemed to already know where I got these bloody grooves and blamed me for upsetting her master. She even shook her head, not knowing why I was being so stupid. I didn't want to talk to her. And after I was drunk with bitter potion, I just fell into a dream of salvation.
...I was walking in the woods. Age-old pines with snow-capped heads. A trampled path under my feet. The sun's rays, thin threads penetrating through the needles. Riverstein. A light joy filled my heart, and I walked faster with a stone wall in front.
- Chickenpox," a voice called me.
I was surprised to turn around and rejoiced.
- Danila!
- At last!" The boy rushed to me, "where are you? Why can't I get through to you? What's wrong?
I looked back in astonishment. The Riverstein building was swinging a little, sometimes in the fog. And the pines didn't smell at all... and I missed their tar smell so much.
- Danila, am I dreaming about you? - I guessed it.
- Of c
ourse you do! Chickenpox, where are you?
- I'm in Chaos.
- Lord Darrell thought so," Danila stretched out. He looked alerted, are you all right? The Archarrion... he won't let you go?
I nodded.
- How is Xenia?
- Fine," Danila smiled, "she misses you. We all miss you... Why couldn't I find you? Lord Darrell has already put me in a trance several times. And there's nothing. It's like you're not here at all. We almost went crazy with anxiety!
- I don't know," I was surprised, "Danila, tell me...
But I didn't get a chance to talk. The pines melted, thinned out, turned into narrow beams of light. I woke up.
I don't know how long I slept, but I felt surprisingly cheerful. I reached out and looked at the restraining movements of the bandages with amazement. I listened to myself, but my shoulder and back didn't hurt at all. I sat down and unwrapped the rags.
- Mistress!" she exclaimed, running in, Albie, "what are you doing!
"And I got blinded, because there were no wounds under the rags, only white scars. But it seems that they will be gone soon, too. And there was a new piece of jewellery on my forearm: a thin bracelet tightly wrapped around my hand.
Where did it come from after.
- Oh," said the demoness, "do people have such a quick healing?
- Albee, I need a new shirt," I said, as I got out of bed and headed for the thermals, "mine is ruined.
The red-eyed one had her lips pressed.
- Just the tunic, mistress.
I shrugged my shoulders gently. Well, tunic, so tunic. I won't argue. While I was splashing in the water, Albie set the table and brought some clothes. I wore a purple tunic with wide sleeves, tied up my belt without looking. Even my shoes. And I sat down on the edge of the chair.
- Where's Rion," I asked.
- The Lord had left the palace," Albee replied, braiding my pigtails by the whisky.
- Oh, I see. Walk me to the portal room, will you? I'm afraid I'm going to make the wrong turns.
- Mistress is forbidden to leave the palace walls," the demon said quietly.
I put bread and cheese on the table and turned to the demoness. She pressed her lips again, showing that she fully agreed with her master's orders. But then, it was her fault she put her eyes down.
- It's for your own safety, mistress!" she said. I also looked her in the eyes, which made the demoness very confused. And she turned her back.
- Well," I said almost calmly, "then let's walk around the palace.
- Yes, mistress!
We entered the corridor. Today it was also deserted, right in this part of the building, and there were living quarters and no strangers.
- Olby, tell me about the Outer Circle of Chaos," I asked when I came out onto the semicircular terrace.
- It's a terrible place, mistress," she replied in silence, "where demons that have lost their ability to turn into humans are being driven out. The outer circle is protected from the world by a magic wall, so that the demons could not leave it.
I remembered the beast's eyes, poured with blood, shining jaws...
- And why can't these demons return to human form?
- It happens if a demon stays in the form of a beast for too long, mistress. The animal essence is much stronger, it obeys instincts. Many demons prefer to be in this hypostasis. Especially warriors and guards. But over time, the demonic essence begins to dominate the human, depriving the mind ... and return it is already impossible.
- Albie, do your women have combat uniforms, too?
- Of course not," she wondered, "why do we need it? It's only men who can turn around.
I nodded, looking at the labyrinth and the demons below. One thought came to my mind...
- Albie, where is Dhir Dharhar now?
- I saw him in the north wing," said Albee. His red eyes sparkled with hatred.
- Take me to him," the demon woman slowed down, pondering. But apparently she didn't have any indication of this, and, dissatisfied with her sorrow, she went forward.
We went through two corridors and the stairs, and moved to the north wing of the building. She also nodded at the high, carved doors.
- The Lord wouldn't like it," she said quietly.
- You don't tell him," I said, knocking. And when she heard the calm "open", she came in. Dhira's transparent green eyes stared at me with mocking surprise. And I was afraid that I had already come.
Daharhar sat on a long sofa in his pants, and a languid red-haired beauty came along. She was wearing only two semitransparent stripes of clothing that did not hide her luxurious figure. She cast an evil yellow eye over me and exposed her fangs. Daharhar lazily guided his palm on her back as if it were stroking a cat.
- How lovely," the dhir stretched out mockingly, "the white lily herself was willing to appear... What an honor.
He bowed his head in a buffoonery bow.
- Can we talk? - I asked, trying to ignore his ridicule. And the demon girl who easily jumped off the couch, walked around me with a disgruntled snort. Daarhar looked at me, still twisting his lips in a mockery. But the transparent eyes looked cold.
- Come out," he nodded at the demoness. She snapped again, but bowed her head and left, closing the door tightly behind her. Dhir was silent, keeping his eyes on me. I lifted up the short prayer of the Blessed Mother, hoping that I had understood correctly the reason for the counselor's hatred.
- I am listening to you, flower," Daanhar stretched out.
- If you get a portal for me, I will disappear from Chaos forever. Today.
Dhir was silent. Not a single feeling was reflected in the transparent eyes. Did I make a mistake?
- Rion will find you and return you in one hour," he finally said.
- No," I'm sure I shook my head, "when I get to Riverstein, they can protect me there. I'm not going back to Chaos.
Dhir was silent again, and I stepped closer.
- If I disappear, the treaty will come into force again," I stretched out without knowing what I was talking about. But remembering Daharhar's hissing in the Archarrion's office.
- Or maybe it would be easier for me to kill you. - The councilman smiled.
- Try it, I shrugged my shoulders.
He got up from the sofa, came to me leisurely.
- Who knows that you came to me? - He asked. And I knew that he would do as I wanted. And I was afraid for Albie.
- No one," I lied, honestly looking into his eyes. Dhir nodded.
- Okay," he whispered, "I'll open the portal to you, flower... Though it's a shame to let you go without trying...
He went up to the massive table and took the black box. Pulled out a couple of thin gloves, put them on with his hands closed. And he came back to me.
- You must have a very good idea of the place you want to get into," he said. There was a thin, light rod in the black mouth of the box. I nodded," he said. Of course I will. Because this is my home.
- When you're ready, just take the rod in your hand.
Before my eyes, centuries-old pines grew, Riverstein walls swept up, and the smell of tar and needles flew out of the forest. And I smiled at Darkharu with all my heart. He answered me with a slightly surprised look.
- Thank you," I said, and took the portal in my hands.
And still smiling, I fell into the torn space.
Immediately I was squeezed across the body by an invisible noose, pulling it back with force. I fell to the floor, cramping through the air.
- You're wearing an arch! - You're wearing a dhir. His hands in gloves slipped quickly across my body and froze, feeling the bracelet on my forearm.
- Why did you come to me when you're wearing an arch? For what purpose? Is Rion testing me? Answer me! - The councilman hissed in my face. The transparent eyes were rapidly dark, poured with blood.
- I didn't know," I whispered. And I covered my face with my hands. The frustration was so strong that I could barely hold back my tears. And even the hissing of
an angry dhira did not concern me now.
After a deep breath, I took my hands off my face and went up.
- How to take that bracelet off," I asked calmly.
- It wasn't. The only person who can take it off is the one wearing it. It's the master.
I nodded slowly. That's what I thought.
- Thank you for your time, Dhir Dharhar," I said, and went to the door. He gave me a silent glimpse.
* * *
The Archarrion has been absent for days. And even in my mind I couldn't feel him, he seemed to be very far away...
Albie followed me like a shadow without letting me out of her sight for a moment, and this unfortunate custody has already made me pretty angry. Every time I fell asleep, I hoped to see Danila again in my dream, but for some reason he wouldn't come. And I missed home and friends more and more. The alienity of Chaos from attraction became repulsive. I couldn't see his beauty anymore, I couldn't see the harmony...
From boredom, I explored the palace. As I had imagined, in the south wing there were the governor's chambers, and therefore they were almost always empty. But the central room was reserved for the main rooms, and the first time I got there I was surprised at the number of demons there. There were many of them, and everyone was in a hurry, moving, talking, and doing something! I even got confused. When they saw me, the demons looked interested, but when they looked at the bracelet on my forearm and smelled the Ruler on me, they hurried away.
So, I found myself amused: seeing one of the demons, preferably a bigger one, I humbly lowered my eyes, and as I approached, I burrowed to take his hand.
The Wind of the North Page 60