But I held on to it. Again and again, I floated out, built a bridge of ice and light, illuminated the darkness with memories. I was pouring my power and life into that infinity, giving my warmth, everything I could, everything in my heart. And the greedy darkness would retreat. Wrapped in a black ball, squeezed its infinity to a fog, crawled snakes.
I don't know how long it's been. When she opened her eyes, dhir sat on the floor, his eyes feverishly shining on his pale face. But I didn't look at him, only at Archarrion. The torn shreds of darkness were slowly melting and vanishing. I ran my palm over his chest, seeing the wounds heal. Slowly, reluctantly, but still, healing.
And I did not notice how I fell without feeling in the emptiness, I did not even feel the hand of an adviser who picked me up and carried me somewhere...
* * *
- Chickenpox, flower, wake up... Come on, wake up!
My cheeks got wet and cold, and I opened my eyes with a sigh. I looked around. I was sitting in a chair in an unfamiliar room, and Daarhar put a wet cloth on my face.
- I thought you had decided to walk forever," he grinned crookedly.
- You can't wait," I muttered and jumped frightenedly.
- Has Rion regained consciousness?
- Not yet. But the darkness was gone, and the demonic essence began to heal," Daarhar shook his head, "so... thank you.
I snorted. There was a weakness in my body.
- Did the Black Demons decide to make a coup? - I asked.
- Yes. Along with Alira. This thing has found allies. Truth is, there's nothing left of their clan.
- And Alira?
- She's escaped. It was seen near the Devil. A dodgy snake. Holding on to the backs of others, acting with other people's hands. If we catch her, I'll strangle her...
- A lot of people," I sighed and got up, "I have to go back.
Daarhar hesitated, looking at me with his cold eyes. Then he nodded slowly.
- I'll adjust the portal," he said and went out.
I went to the open door and looked at the Archarrion lying on the bed. I came in quietly. I understood that I shouldn't do it, I shouldn't approach, I shouldn't look ... But I couldn't help myself. I sat down carefully on the edge of the bed, stretched out my hand, and ran my fingertip over his face, feeling his palm trembling.
And immediately I found myself under it, before I could even breathe, as Archharrion turned over, pressed me with his body, clutched my wrists with one palm. I choked, my heart as if it had stopped. All that remained were these dark eyes, from his endless abyss, with an abyss into which I had fallen and from which I would never return. With this attraction, unbelievable, impossible, driving me crazy and turning my gut out. I looked at it, forgetting that people need to breathe...
- Wow," he stretched it out, "and I thought it seemed to me.
He laughed. And he let go of my hands, stood up. And I think I just sighed. And I got up uncertainly, corrected my dress. Rion was silent, looking at me and silent. And I didn't know what to tell him.
He threw his head up.
- Thank you for your help," he said quietly.
I kept silent. He looked into my eyes.
- You've given too much Power again, Vetriana," he frowned.
- I'm all right," I said quietly.
The Archarrion smiled.
- He heard about your success and your school. Well done," he said. And the furore in the Empire. The snow flower of the North. Somehow it seems so," he said exactly. I wince. What's he talking about?
I threw my head in.
- Rion, I owe you an explanation...
Throat intercepted. He looked calmly, even tilted his head slightly, showing that he was eager to hear my explanations. And I choked, blended, shut up. And I realized I didn't know what to say.
The archpriest came up, stood very close, so that I could almost hear his heart beating.
- Don't," he said exactly.
- You don't understand...
- Is that so? What's that? That you lied to me there in your castle when I came to get you? Or the fact that you lied in a way that would hurt me as much as possible? Or the fact that your freedom is most important to you? What exactly don't I understand?
I ate my lip, knowing what he said. The Archarrion shrugged his shoulders.
- I understand, Vetriana. Well, almost... - he raised his eyebrow as if inviting me to say something. But I was silent, unable to squeeze a sound out of myself.
- Silent... Well, then, I'll say it. You see, that's not the point. It's not that... It's that I know how you can fight for what's dear to you. I've seen it. You fight to the last, to the death, and even after death you don't let go. And from me... You chose to leave. Hitting harder so he could understand better, he smiled again.
- I couldn't live like that. Otherwise, you would never let me go, Rion. - I whispered.
- Have you tried it? In another way? - almost gently, he asked.
I could feel my fingers trembling, and I squeezed them, trying to calm down. I looked at him and I saw a stranger. So familiar, and so strange. Too calm, indifferent, only dark in the eyes, not even the fire trembling. He must be killing with that face...
He slipped towards me and suddenly squeezed my shoulders.
- I kept wondering how it was you who came from Briar, asked me to light the fireplace. I looked at the stars. I swam in a thermal bath. I thought about what you were gonna do and say... How you were gonna kiss. How you're gonna smile. Did you think of everything? And what are you gonna do the next day. How you're gonna lie to me, hide your thoughts. I felt like you cared... I saw... and yet... You did. Chickenpox, what's inside you, say? A piece of your north? Darkness, I couldn't do that. It's easier to kill. You wanted freedom so badly? Enjoy it.
- You're cruel," I said quietly.
- Am I? - You have no idea how kind I am to you.
The Archarrion took his hands off, moved away. I couldn't understand the look in his eyes. Why is he looking at me like that? Tense, like he's waiting for some words... The very words I couldn't say. The ones that could make things right. I couldn't wait.
- Go away," he got angry.
I went to the door with my teeth clenched. My head was empty. And, really, what do I have inside? How do I explain it?
- You're right, though," the indifferent voice sounded in my back, "I would never let you go any other way.
I didn't turn around, I just pushed the door and came out. I came out of the room, into the corridor, leaning against the wall. The palace was already full of demons, black uniforms flashing before my eyes. They didn't pay any attention to me, glided with a wary look and turned away.
Dharhar returned, looked frowning and gave me a crystal pendant, a portal. I took it without even saying goodbye to the counselor.
* * *
Spider was standing at the gate. He just stood there and looked at the ground with his head down. He twitched when I came out of the portal. His face was so relieved, it made me uncomfortable. He threw himself at me, and he couldn't help but hug me. I gently freed myself from his hands.
- Shaider, it's okay. Don't worry. I told you I'd be back.
- I was... scared.
- Come on, you're completely frozen. How long have you been standing there?
He was waving his head off without answering. I saw that he could barely hold me again, and I was happy when Solmei came out of the gate. I said something, even smiled, hurrying to leave as soon as possible, hiding in my rooms. Fortunately, Shyder was distracted so I could escape. I even closed the doors, locked them, not wanting to see anyone. And when Lord Darrell knocked, a sleepy voice said I was going to sleep. I was glad that his tactfulness had prevented me from insisting...
For the sake of credibility, I even put out the lights, and sat in the dark, looking at the flakes on the back of a fire lizard. I fell asleep in the chair as if I had failed. Still, I really did give a lot of strength...
And I woke up this morning in my bed, even carefu
lly covered with a blanket. She lay there, thinking about it. And without noticing I was smiling.
Chapter 31.
Riverstein was still asleep. I quickly dressed up and left the room, walking down a quiet corridor, listening to the sound of the old castle. I went out into the courtyard, breathed in the frosty air. It was still winter at the border. To the present, first heat, at least two more turns of the moon will pass...
I used to go around the yard, look around the castle. I walked along the path to the forest, touching the trees with my fingers, feeling the current of life accelerating in them. The forest was slowly waking up, getting ready to throw off the shackles of winter sleep, swelling up with kidneys, breaking through the spicy grass.
I loved this waiting, this stiffness of spring feeling, warming even in the cold. And so I walked easily, joyfully. And I didn't even know at first what moment I felt uncomfortable. Someone else's eyes touched the back of the head like a sticky touch. It was like a woodlice that fell by the collar on the naked neck. Ugly... I turned around, no one. Only the usual snow-covered spruce with a chain of my traces between it. I listened. But neither my external nor internal hearing heard anything disturbing. And yet I felt uncomfortable. I looked at the tops of the pine trees, and the birds flew up and over the trees, looking at the forest. I listened carefully to their bird senses, watched the flight. Nothing.
I called the wolves. The grey predators slid to me from the thicket, stood beside me, and I breathed, driving away a nasty sticky fear. Surrounded by the pack, it softened, let go. And I got angry. This is my forest, my home, the land where I grew up with my soul! I'm not going to let anyone take that away from me! And I won't let you scare me... But as much as I listened, I never found anything suspicious. And then I went on quietly, thinking it was just a thought.
However, the worm of anxiety remained in the soul.
When I returned, Antashar and Lord Darrell were already sitting in the refectory. We discussed plans and current matters, and then I turned to the Lord.
- Shaider, could you open up a portal for me?
- Which way," the alarm went off in his gaze.
- The Wolf Path. I promised to go back to them and listen to the forest. Maybe it'll work out," I sighed, "really, I was hoping to know something by the time I got back, but I guess I just got more confused.
- The Source of the Red Desert is cooling down in the south," Antashar quietly said, "I was at Elloar yesterday, very concerned about what was happening. Two shields and a ring of guards have already been placed around the white tree.
- Sacred elders," I mumbled. In the Red Desert lived Whispering, a clan of mercenaries and murderers, as well as desert nomads, with their wild sand dragons, whose heat destroyed the rocks. If their Source cools down, they will have to look for a new one.
Spider frowned, and I knew without explanation where it was going.
- The circle of light never found a reason? - Antashar shook his head.
- All they could understand was that the Sources were running out of Power. We always thought it was infinite, but it turned out that it was not.
We were silent, immersed in unfunny thoughts. Without the Sources, there is no magic in the Underworld. And there will be no one whose life feeds on power. If the Sources dry up, then after a while our world will be inhabited only by people ... Weak, defenseless, but completely calm living their age without magical power. This is the mockery of the Abyss...
- Spider, make a portal to the Wolf Trail, please, I strongly asked. He nodded. I sat there, pondering and not knowing if I should ask.
- Chickenpox, is there something else bothering you?
I looked carefully into his nut eyes.
- Shyder, tell me, is our shield around the castle strong enough? Won't he miss... strangers?
- It's very strong, Vetriana. It's the Source shield, and it's getting stronger every day. Is something wrong?
I shook my head.
- Just... clarifying. Thank you. And also... What happens to the Source if the keeper dies?
Antashar and Shaider looked over, and they clearly didn't like my questions.
- Because even the Guardians don't live forever!
- But they're giving birth to heirs. Usually the line of Guardians is hereditary. But if it happens that the Keeper dies and there is no receiver, the spirit of the Source can choose a new Keeper. Or it could close down, fade away. I've already told you, we don't know where this power comes from, and something like the Source is in its essence.
I nodded.
- When can you open the portal?
- I'll be in the mood for lunch.
* * *
The Wolf Trail met with warmth, and I gladly put my face in the sunlight. The wolves smelled us, as soon as their portal came out, and in a few steps Jared came towards us, as usual in the same pants and even barefoot. I rejoiced at the young wolf, smiled joyfully. And for some reason, he was embarrassed. And then a young girl slid behind him from behind the trees, in her beautiful light eyes splashing cheerful curiosity.
I smiled even bigger. To him and the girl who stood behind his back and eloquently slipped her palm into his hand.
- Jared, it's so good to see you.
The wolf turned to the girl.
- Maya, can you get Grant, please? Tell him the "hearing" girl is back.
She nodded, and she dissolved quietly behind the trees as well. I hid the smile.
- There," I said, trying not to laugh, "or I was hoping! I didn't sleep at night, I lost my appetite, thinking of you! And you, Jared, have found a match! Believe after that... to the wolves!
- I'm sorry," he mumbled confusedly, "as it happens... spring...
- Spring came, the flowers bloomed, and you immediately forgot all your promises," I carefully kept a serious expression on your face, even almost frowned! Oh, Jared, you broke my heart!
- Oh, really? - He was amazed. A man's complacency slipped over the guilty embarrassment. Shyder snorting mockingly behind my back.
- Of course," I assure you, "I don't even know how to deal with it now...
The wolf was picking his toe on the ground, and it looked so touching that I couldn't stand it and giggled. He threw his head up.
- Chickenpox! You've got to be kidding me!
- Just a little bit, I'm sorry! - I hugged him warmly, and I laughed openly, - Maya is very beautiful.
- She's the best," he replied fondly and smiled, "but it's a good thing Maya couldn't hear you now, or I'd have to spend these nights alone! She's jealous," the wolf said with the same complacency.
- All right, let's go, cheater. I won't be long. What of the Source?
- It's getting cold," he sighed as soon as he became serious. And it's been a long time since we've seen unicorns. They disappeared right after you left.
- Then let's not waste time," I hurried, "especially since there seems to be less and less of them...
Soon Grant joined us, and behind the trees I saw grey predatory shadows. The news of my return overnight flew the Wolf Trail like a bird of hope.
- Do you have some kind of plan? - Grant asked me, as he tuned in to my move, did you learn anything?
- No, but I'll try to listen to your source and sing an awakening song. I'm just gonna try to...
- That's a lot, Vetryana," the leader nodded.
The wolves led Shader and I to the flat stone that was heated by the sun, surrounded by white trees, and went into the thicket, not wanting to disturb me. I sat on the stone, listened. Bird trills, raising small animals, the current of grass and trees. The usual sounds of the forest. The pale threads of power shiver with cobwebs, woven with lace. Scattered over branches, tangled in shrubs, subtly shudder on delicate spring flowers. Light, transparent, weak. Almost imperceptible.
I put my palms on a rock. The words came by themselves, the words of a song that awakens the Source. I sang, trying to catch the change, feel life... Feel the stormy stream of power that picks me up and carries me to the
universe. But everything was in vain. The power didn't come, the stone still cooled down.
From disappointment, I covered my face with my hands, trying not to cry. Somewhere inside, I knew that it wouldn't work, that this Source wouldn't wake up, because it wouldn't fall asleep but die... but I still hoped. I was hoping that a miracle would happen.
The miracle didn't happen, and now I cried quietly. Then I wiped my tears and stood up until the pack came back.
Behind the white trunks I was sitting on the fallen tree of Shider. He wouldn't even ask me anything, he could see it in my face. And Grant knew it when he came up. He nodded gratefully, but the doom that had cut my heart was frozen in my eyes.
- The Circle of Light is looking for a reason," said Shider, "we all hope they'll find it soon enough. Sources are getting cold all over the world and faster. It's a common problem now, Grant, not just yours.
- Yeah, we're hearing rumors, too," the leader sighed, "there's talk that even in Graham changes have begun. The people of the Free Mountains are very concerned. Well, let us hope for the grace of the Abyss. There's nothing left for us anymore.
- We shall be glad to see you in Riverstein," I said quietly, "if...
I was silent, unable to continue. Grant nodded slowly. Behind the trees there were wolves sitting on the ground, with their faces low.
We were coming home in a depressed mood.
- Don't blame yourself," Shaider told me, "you did what you could.
I nodded frustrated.
* * *
After lunch, Shider and I stumbled back into vintage folios. In fact, I noticed that Lord Darrell spent a lot of time collecting books, writing and deciphering something, drawing runes on yellow parchment, and they lit up in blue, and then melted and disappeared... and Shyder frowned, cursed through his teeth with his obscure words, and started all over again. Just like the Circle of Light, he tried to find the answer to a question that was troubling everyone.
We almost took apart Mother Briar's notes, rewrote all the runes, but we saw no point in them.
The Wind of the North Page 70