- My dear," I asked, "will you take me to the refectory? I seem to be lost...
Demons leaned towards me first, even smiling, and then they jumped out like scalded cats and hurriedly removed. Albie, watching this, wasn't happy snorting. But more and more, it seemed to me that behind her dissatisfaction was laughter.
It's true, pretty soon I regretted my fun. When I was having fun like that, I noticed Darkhar's hard look.
- Are you having fun? - he asked by stretching his lips in a smile. I shrugged my shoulders. Dhir leaned towards me," you know what awaits the demon whose scent the Ruler smells on you, the flower? Death.
I looked into his empty eyes, not believing.
- It's monstrous," I whispered, "some wildness...
Dhir grinned.
- Have fun, white lily. As long as you can.
And he left with a smile. And I stayed, feeling my cheeks burning with remorse... Silly, what am I doing? So I didn't go near the demons at all anymore... And even when I met them, I tried to avoid them on the tenth road. But I couldn't sit in the room looking out the window anymore either. So I asked Albie to leave me alone, sat on the bed and closed her eyes.
I didn't know if I could do it, but I hoped the blood connection would help. I swam the red threads that bound us together, pulling Archarrion out of the unknown distance in which he was.
When I opened my eyes, Rion stood on the white carpet and frowned as he looked at me.
- Why did you call me," he asked.
I sighed.
- I wanted to say thank you. For getting me out of the Outer Circle...
- Yeah? - He smiled mockingly, - well, tell me.
I grabbed my hands and turned away.
- Thank you, Rion," I said, and went to the window. I looked thoughtfully at the red spiral of the labyrinth below, and without turning, I said:
- Rion, take off the bracelet. And let go of me. I'm begging you very much. I'm... not feeling well here.
It was so quiet behind me, I thought he was gone. But no, he came up quietly, gave me a hug, buried his face in my hair.
- Chickenpox..." he whispered.
- I don't understand why you're doing this," I said sadly, "Why? If you just want... intimacy... Okay. Okay, let's do it. I'll do whatever you want... Just let me go later.
It's frozen. And then he turned me around. I didn't think he'd get that angry, dark eyes turned dark, he looked at me almost with hate.
- What a marvellous suggestion," the demon mockingly said, "but I think I will refuse. No, I do not want only intimacy, Vetriana. I want everything. Everything you can give, all of you. And I'm gonna get it.
- By putting me in a cage and wearing a collar? - Sadly, I asked.
The Archarrion wince.
- In Chaos, you are protected, Vetriana. No one here can harm you... You'll be all right. You'll get used to it in time. To Chaos. And me.
I shook my head, feeling his anger. It burned me from the inside like hot lava, took my breath away.
- You're only making it worse, Rion. You know, I almost started... trusting.
He let me go and walked away. Bent his head.
- I told you not to build illusions about me," he said calmly, "I will do as I see fit. I warned you that you'd better just accept it.
- Get over it? - I think I'm beginning to hate you, Rion.
The Archarrion raised his head looking me in the eyes. Something hurt inside, I don't know if he or I had...
- You can continue your studies with Briard," he said indifferently. "I will put up a portal leading to his house. You can spend as much time there as you like, but you have to be at the palace at night.
I almost bit my lip to blood.
- I don't want you touching me," I whispered.
With one move, the Archarrion was there, clenching my shoulders painfully.
- I will touch you as much as I want, understand? - He said with anger, and whenever I want. And hold on to your Power, it will not help you.
I looked at him with dry eyes, there were no tears. Without looking, Rion opened the passage of darkness and went into the torn space.
* * *
In the evening, Albie brought an already familiar crystal vase, which I touched and moved to the house on the rock. My cheeks were blown by the cold wind, and the sun splashed in my face, and I smiled almost happily. How tired I am of the walls!
- The chickenpox! - Briar was walking towards me, smiling at me with his crooked smile, how glad I am to see you! You scared me so much, girl...
- Sorry, I smiled.
Briar looked sharp, but he did not develop the subject. The teacher was wise enough.
- Well, are you ready to work? - I nodded, immediately taking off my fur vest, so I knew from experience that I would warm up, it was worth starting. And again, Briar was squeezing every drop out of me, making me see and feel my power, control it. It was hard for me, too dependent on my emotions, I couldn't concentrate, I was lost. But Briar didn't give up and seemed to genuinely enjoy our lesson.
- Well, that's not bad," he said, as I literally fell to the ground, breathing heavily like a dog. The teacher just laughed as he looked at me.
- It's all right, you'll get used to it," he said.
- Are you kidding me? - I wheezed.
- I'm still gentle with you," Briar said, surprised, "when Rion was teaching, that's when he was. But now there are few better warriors...
I wince. I didn't want to hear or talk about the Archarrion. Except Briar pretended not to understand my eloquent message.
- You know," he said thoughtfully, helping me up, "Rion--he's not bad. It's just demons, they have a different meaning. It's not human. Besides, Rion grew up in a war and had only Saarhardt, and the cruelty of this demon has become a legend. You have no idea what kind of horrible conditions Rion grew up in. And he never had someone to teach him how to live differently. Try to... understand him.
I looked calmly into the amber and slightly embarrassed eyes.
- Briar, let's make an agreement," I said, "we'll continue our training, and we won't discuss Archarrion. We will never. I'm sorry, but I don't want to talk about him.
Briar nodded slowly. And he smiled.
- Shouldn't we get something to eat?
- I would love to," I said.
In the afternoon we were studying again, and in the evening I fell asleep curled up in a chair under wolf's skin. Through the dream I could hear Archarrion coming, talking to Briar quietly, and then he picked me up in his arms. I squeezed as we entered the bedroom, but the demon only put me on the bed and covered me with a blanket. And it walked away.
The next few days were like this: after lessons and leisurely conversations with my teacher, and I also got to Mother Briar's notes, and in the evenings I tried to understand the heap of crazy thoughts and images. Worst of all, the ink on the old parchment was almost faded, pale, and I had to stretch my eyes to the point where I took it apart. But what I was able to read also looked delirious and I couldn't distinguish a reasonable thought from it.
I always fell asleep at the fireplace, in the chair I loved, and every night the Archpriest would take me away and take me to the palace in his arms. And he would always leave.
And in the morning, having rushed to the thermals and getting dressed, I would run away to the house on the rock again.
Today I was going to do the same and I was surprised when Archharrion entered the room. I was just braiding my braids, not looking in a big mirror, but pensively looking through the stained glass. The silent appearance of the demon frightened me, and I shuddered. I turned to it, automatically flying the braid.
- Briar says you're making progress," he said, silently. I didn't answer. The Archarrion has moved closer," he said. "I want to show you something. Let's go.
The Archarrion threw a fur coat at me and took my hand, opening the passage. And I choked. Because we were standing in a pine snow-covered forest. I threw my head, looking at the tops of the trees, the
snow sparkling in the sun, the intertwining of needles and the pattern of shadows...
But most importantly, this forest was near the palace of Chaos! I could see through the trees its walls of shimmering stone, white sand and brown vegetation, and here, just half a workbench, stretched out a real northern forest! And I remembered very well that when we flew the dragon, there was nothing like it here and in the memorial!
Probably it was some kind of magic, because the forest was alive, real, sharp smelling of pine and frost, with squeaky snow under its feet. I even noticed a curious squirrel looking at us from the branches. Like an enchanted one, I slowly walked down the path, my hand touching rough trunks. Warm. Resinous. Living. I closed my eyes, listening. The forest whispered something, talked with its wide paws of fir trees, sang with pulled juice, told its stories...
Among the sand and stone of Chaos, this northern forest was almost a miracle.
Once again, I did not hear the Archharrion approach.
- You smile so rarely," he said quietly, "and I like your smile so much. Like this...
He gently hugged me, pinned me to him. I closed my eyes. If you close your eyes and feel only the smell of the forest, the measured heartbeat on your cheek, warm hands hugging me, you can... not think. I raised my head looking at him. The Archarrion slowed down, then gently touched me with his lips. So slowly and unlike him, it became funny, and I snorted. He took my face in the palm of his hand.
- I'll do anything for you," said Archarrion quietly, "whatever you want. Just... be patient. I beg you.
It must have been some kind of magic after all, because now, in this piece of winter forest, I was not afraid. And I almost believed him...
- My lord, a cold voice was heard.
- Not now, Daharhar," said the Archharrion displeased. Dhir bowed his head respectfully.
- Forgive me, Master, but the Outer Circle is trying to break through again. The defense dome has been torn in several places at once and the guards are unable to cope. We need to send additional forces...
The Archharrion suspended me and turned sharply towards the advisor.
- How long has it been? Whose clan is at the Circle today?
- Half an hour, my lord. The fires.
The Archarrion nodded, looked at me.
- Chickenpox, will you stay here? Or will you go back to the palace? I must go.
- I'll stay," I confusedly said, "what's wrong?
He smiled, but I could see that his thoughts were already far away. All he could see was calm concentration.
- Never mind that. Take a walk, I'll be back soon.
Dhir looked at me mockingly, but steel flashed through my eyes. Then the Archharrion opened the crossing, and they both disappeared.
Rion didn't come back in an hour or two. And when I finally froze to sit under the tree, I just climbed out and went to the palace, blessed, he was very close. Already on the path by the maze, Albie rushed towards me.
- Mistress, I'm right behind you! My lord ordered me to...
- Where is he? - suddenly I was scared.
- I told him to escort you to your chambers...
A strange pain ring clenched my chest. I shoved Albie off and ran to the white stairs, jumping over the steps. So fast, even a fast demon couldn't keep up with me, and I simply ignored her frightened screams. The bad feeling clutched my heart more and more, I did not notice how the demons parted, letting me through, how wrapped above my head hissing lightning cloud, as the hair rushing around my face.
I found the Archarrion in the north wing. I never doubted for a moment where I was going. I knew it. He was half sitting in a chair, a gray and hairy healer fussing around, densely smearing viscous potions on the wound in his chest. Rion looked indifferently, the darkness crawled from his dark eyes.
I calmly pushed the healer aside and took Rion's hand.
- What... what do you allow yourself! - The healer is outraged, get the girl out of here!
Daarhar rushed to me, looking me in the eye in astonishment. There was blood on his pale cheek as well as on his body, a bloody rip on his black uniform.
- Step back, Tharhar," he said to the healer, and walked away, pulling the grey-haired one behind him.
I had already hurriedly poured into the Archharrion's Silhouette, trembling, without hesitation, looking into his detached face. The wound was healing, but Rion did not recover.
- It's the Darkness," Daarrhkhar said, "too often he lets it go.
Darkness... I closed my eyes, slipped through the bloody threads that bind us. And I was terrified. How much original darkness was in it! Poisonous, cruel, destructive... I remembered the white snow and sunlight, thin rays gliding through the needles, and the flight on the dragon and my dreams for which I was ashamed... And the darkness fluttered, curled up like a rattlesnake, lurking for a while...
When I opened my eyes, there was such silence in the room that it could be cut into pieces.
- I kept wondering how the claw marks had lengthened so quickly," the grey-haired healer said thoughtfully, "I didn't think I'd live to see it that way.
Rion smiled, pressed my palm to my lips. The look he gave me was embarrassing. Too hot, too straightforward. The presence of outsiders did not embarrass him at all... I almost blushed and got up. I looked at the pale dhira, sighed as I saw the flashes of pain on his aura, and extended my hand to him. Daharhar swayed and somehow he took my palm unsurely. I healed his wounds quickly, it was not difficult after the darkness of Arharrion. Then I went up and went to the door and turned around on the doorstep.
- I'm going to Briar," I told Archarrion, "to stay near the trees.
He nodded. He had a strange expression in his eyes that I couldn't understand. And for some reason, it bothered me. I closed the door behind me, accompanied by the eyes of demons.
Chapter 25.
Archharrion came to the house on the rock when Briar and I were quietly pulling the herbalist from the clay mugs, and once again tried to understand his mother's notes. Rion stepped out of the crossing and, sitting in his chair, reached for the meat dish. The teacher and I looked around and continued our research, bending our heads low above the parchment. Afterwards, when the Archharrion ate and took the wine cup, I asked:
- Will you tell me what happened?
- We were ambushed," he wincered.
- The Circle has been breaking through a lot lately," Briar said.
- Too often," added Archharrion, "and these breakthroughs are well planned. Wild demons are strong, but not reasonable. Today, the dome has been revealed in several places where the fire demons' core strength has been concentrated. And revealed by magic.
- Someone's directing them? - Briar was concerned.
- Yes, they are.
- Alira? - I asked quietly.
The Archarrion was silent.
- When we arrived in Chaos, I sent several units of warriors and mages to find her. They found no trace of her. It was as if she had disappeared from the face of the earth, vanished! And the best Dark Chaos were looking for her... But they couldn't find her. And one more thing. Someone knew exactly where the exit point from the darkness was. When I brought the squad, they were already waiting for us...
- Did a lot of Firemen go beyond the Fringe? - Briar asked. The Archarrion nodded.
- Chickenpox, you'd better not leave the palace for days. I need to leave, and you'll be safe there.
I wanted to be outraged, even looked at Briar for support, but he nodded.
- It's the safest place in the Underworld," he said. And he looked at Archarrion with a sharp look.
- Did something else happen?
I couldn't deny my teacher's insight, and I myself felt an understatement. Rion was darkened even more.
- In the east, four Sources began to cool at once. And fast, much faster than before. The power is drying up like a brook in a drought. Soon it will not even be enough to sustain life, not just magic. Orcs mostly live in those places, they do not possess magic, but wit
hout the Source they lose the ability to reproduce. I'm afraid if we don't find the reason and restore the Source as soon as possible, the world will have a new war. For the rest of us.
The Archarrion is silent. Briar frowned upon the fire. I was horrified at both.
- What about the Labyrinth? - The teacher asked.
- The Labyrinth is fine. I check every day. The Anvarius says the White Tree of Elves, too," he looked at me and explained, "The Anvarius of Erolion is the ruler of the Good Empire. Their source is the White Tree, they believe it grew on the remnants of the Tree of Life, the one from which all things in the Underworld came.
- Something in our world is broken," Briar sadly said, still looking at the fire.
- When do you leave? Where are you going? - I asked.
- We have to check our limits, visit the northern clans, talk to the Supreme Demons. And I'd rather visit them myself and without warning. I need to know exactly who I can count on.
- Be careful," I said, a little stuttering.
The Archarrion was surprised. And then he smiled.
- Are you worried about me?
- I don't want anything to happen to you," I answered calmly. And I smiled," she said, "it takes too much effort to heal you.
The men laughed and I was glad that the situation was not so sad...
We walked across the crossing when the blue celestial lights were already on above the rocks. And the yellow moon was looking out the window with curiosity. I took Mother Briar's notes with me, hoping to see them in the palace.
In the bedroom, I froze in indecision by the bed, somehow acutely feeling his presence. The archpriest was looking at my blushing face with a smile.
- Will you miss me? - He asked.
- No," I answered.
- You're lying," the demon laughed. And he pinned it on me," I feel like you're lying...
He stood there, holding me to him, and moved away with a sigh.
- I have to go, Vetriana.
I nodded, I looked into my eyes.
- Will you take off your bracelet?
The Archarrion was darkened at once.
- I'll take it off when I'm sure you won't run away," he said calmly and went out, leaving me alone.
The Wind of the North Page 61