Amaranta. Rival of Fairies’ Queen
Natalie Yacobson
The union between elves and people was concluded for the first time in the century. Now is the end of the magical strife. The king of elves and the mortal count managed to make friends. But from behind the sea, the bride of the Count Amaranta arrived, and the king of elves realized that her love was for him more expensive than the peace with mortals. He begins to pay court to Amaranta, bringing her gold roses and magic gifts. And the Queen of Fairies and Dragons wants to destroy a rival.
Amaranta
Rival of Fairies’ Queen
Natalie Yacobson
Translator Natalie Lilienthal
© Natalie Yacobson, 2021
© Natalie Lilienthal, translation, 2021
ISBNВ 978-5-0053-8993-0
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
Union with aВ magic state
The contract with unearthly fiery seal lay on his desk. Unprecedented honor! The seal ofВ the King ofВ the Elves Dagda himself, but Count Angus paused aВ little.
В«ToВ conclude an alliance with them, it means toВ destroy all ofВ us,В» whispered his knight Theobald. В«We, people, and the magic people, were always enemies. Nothing can be changed byВ one contract. After all, the magic creatures are cunning. They just deceive us, sleep our vigilance.
«But the seal from fire is sacred for them,» the count first did not listen to the advice of Theobald. «See, it still burns and burns your fingers, even stands on paper.» But at the same time the paper itself does not burn! Isn’t a miracle! Even they will not be able to break it, since they put on the contract, it means that it will not be broken. The seal of Dagda himself!»
He touched reverently it with his fingers. The magic fire ofВ the seal flamed, but no longer burned. From it only slightly pricked the fingers, and beautiful colored sparks were blocked on the skin.
«I’m going to marry tomorrow. I need peace, you need a guarantee that we will no longer be attacked. At least, from the side of the magic people – that enemy, which is not overcome by the earth’s weapon. With conventional enemies, we can cope, but not with magical. It is better to make peace.»
«A truce,» corrected the adviser, always worn black in the sign of Mourning for the deceased family and the abducted bride, which was probably already dead or was enchanted. The Count could understand it. The grief of Theobald was great. Moreover, he did not want something like that repeated and with Amaranta. She was already driving here to become his wife. Her retinue is insignificant. But even if it was big, the elves can easily attack from the forest, from the steppes, from the water, from the mountains, even from the hills, not to mention the air and heaven – they live everywhere. Do not agree with them it means to become a victim. He himself is a knight and will perish with dignity if he has to fight. The main thing is that he did not enjoy it. After all, death from witchcraft is tormented and terrible. Angus’s ownership suffered from attacks of the magic people since time immemorial. Supernatural enemies fell suddenly, no one in advance warning about his invasion, which greatly distinguished them from the human troops, which first declare war, and then they lead the troops. It is a pity that the fairies and elves lived solely by their rules. If they have at least some rules. Their people were multiple, diverse and unusually strong. Now the hordes of magic creatures were surrendered to the count’s fields, pulling and burning sowing, the fairies blown out the villages of Sleepy Dusty, from which the peasants even after the awakening performed an unusual rash, and the minds were damaged.
People who were enchanted by fairies, then all their lives went like sleepy flies and painfully reacted to the light of the moon. And from the elves’ archers there was no salvation. They always took what they wanted, leaving behind the meadows and lakes covered with poisonous spells, and even the ashes. The rights of strong magic creatures worked whatever. And the councils on them were not. From their attacks suffered still grandfather and great-grandfather of Angus. And his father they generally reduced the world. No one was able to save the late count from some joker-elves, who came on the moon night and started the game with him not to life, but for death because of some flirty moon fairies. Naturally, the person in the magic game lost and exhausted from the incurable disease in a matter of days. After all, the bet in the game was no more than life. Anyone who played in the bones with elves, then confused thoughts, and blood oozed from under the nails. Magic creatures came, playing and joking, and people then died. Supernatural diseases caught by their charms mowed the subjects of the count, as if the harvest. Angus himself would endure this years. But Amaranta he wanted to ensure security. If it would not be his beautiful blond bride, he would not think about the security of all the surrounding villages and villages, not to mention the safety of the whole world. The old witch doctor, which in the district was also considered as a prophet, somehow predicted that hardly magical folk, playing, wrap all the county, then the king of the elves and the fairies’ Queen would unite and go war against the whole world.
Angus himself was not familiar with the king Dagda, nor with his girlfriend the fairies’ Queen, about which, by the way, was going to have rather sinister rumors. But the stray elf, accidentally met at the crossroads, explained to him that any white bird released right at the sunset, it was tented to Dagda himself.
В«InВ the sunset, the gates toВ our world will open,В» he explained toВ the count. This elf itself has the sunset inВ color, because his skin was orange, like fire. He could lie, because elves byВ nature are false. Nevertheless, the count listened toВ him and sent aВ message inВ such an unusual way. The postal dove released into the sunset obviously reached the target. After all, the answer came. Angus was pleased that the king ofВ Elves reacted so quickly and even offered his friendship. He did not see any tricks inВ this.
«I respect your advice, but now it’s wiser to do so,» he looked at the crippled hand, which Theobald hid under the glove – evidence of the attack of elves. He snatched his hand, though mutilated, and the family could not save. And now he was depressed. Nothing consoled him, as if the elves infected his heart to a poisonous black longing. The hand reloaded and started to exhibit magic, tormented Theobald even more. He went to the holy fathers, they tried to help him but without success
«If it becomes very bad, I don’t come to the castle,» he promised all the time.
It was better to prevent danger at the root. The responsibility of the count was to follow the affairs, both outside and inside the county. He also lost his parents from the attack of the magic creatures, but did not get out. He cared for his lands and subjects. Old disputes of his ancestors with the people of Fairy do not have more meaning. And Dagda considers it now also. After all, he put his stamp. Now only the signature and sealing of the count are needed. The wandering magicians, whom he met on the roads of counties and which then disappeared somewhere, turned out to be much smarter than all of his advisers. They advised to bore the message to Dagda with their own blood, because by one droplet of your blood, the elves can easily understand that you are not hypocritical. Be that as it may, the answer immediately came, delivered to the castle window with a tiny dragon ruby-colored and with silver eyes. It is probably he got to put a fiery stamp under the signature of the most great ruler of the elves’ Dagda.
ToВ conclude aВ truce with the elves is much more smarter than toВ fight with them. After all, the forces are unequal. The consent ofВ Dagda must be taken as mercy.
The count itself would not go to that. But for the sake of their people… For the sake of defenseless old men and children of counties, for the sake of Amaranta… And he put a seal with an admixture of his own blood. The whole contract immediately broke out with a flame, in which, however, did not burn, but divided into two copies. One for Dagda, the Lord of the Magic People, the second for the count, the patron of local people. So mankind and magic came to the Union. The Count hoped that the Union would be fertile and fruitful. After all, the elves are great assistants in the war and in work, if they want, not to mention the magic. And soon the messenger of Dagda himself will come to visit. It’s time to drink for peace. A tiny elf has already been sitting on a barrel with wine and noisily noted that, devastating one fell behind another, each more than it is size. These creatures were able to drink, and it is no longer impossible to drive them. But the price is worth it. After all, it’s already going here Amaranta with her retinue. The world is mainly for her. To prevent her beauty to bloom in complete safety in the county.
White bird with an amber inВ the forehead
Amaranta came out of the carriage. The wheel of the carriage flew from the axis just in the middle of the bridge, perched through the abyss. By legend, moon’s elves were built it.
В«If you stay here at night, we will see how they dance,В» the accompanying girls whispered. В«They say they will lead mortals with them if they are invited toВ dance. Someone is thrown into the abyss, tangling aВ minute with him inВ heaven under the stars, and someone will give immortality.В»
More like aВ fairy tale, Amaranta decided toВ herself. But the bridge really made the impression ofВ aВ magical structure. Its foundations protruded directly from the rocks at the bottom and folded into bizarre stone arabesques. The railing was not. For that only the bridge was held and why did it not still have fallen? The abyss under it seemed bottomless and ice. It was worth looking down and the imagination was involuntarily played. It seemed that there were tormented and hundreds ofВ early beings were screaming. It was cold around. And the bridge itself seemed made not from the stone, but fromВ ice.
Usually Amaranta had aВ common sense, but now she was drawn on fantasy. The sky looked as if the dragon was just flying, leaving aВ scarlet strip ofВ fire inВ heaven. And according toВ the intricate bends ofВ the decorations ofВ the bridge, some white creature crawled, only remotely resembling the child. His thin white hands with gills beckoned Amaranta down. Does it want that she jumped into the abyss? And is it before the wedding itself? It seems that it is completely unkind. It is good that her companions did not notice him. The girls were too passionate about the chatters, and the men are busy with the repair ofВ the carriage. And the coachman, and grooms, and even the footman were pronounced inВ the unbearable work for them. The junk wheel did not want toВ get back on the axis, as if it was enchanted.
В«Do you want me toВ tell fortunes toВ you?В» the creature already stood on the bridge. It resembled aВ large white spider with aВ face and body ofВ an angular teenager. And the membranes and the selected eyelashes reminded ofВ the winter. В«IВ know how toВ predict the future! But you can not have it. You can right now go toВ this abyss. After all, your life is aВ threat for the well-being ofВ our king.В»
В«Your king?!В» Amaranta almost laughed. They also have aВ king! Curiously, he also lives inВ the abyss under the bridge. There is cold and uncomfortable. Where is there toВ take aВ whole kingdom?
The winter is approaching!» the creature was still illuminated and clung to ice claws in the hand of Amaranta. Although the girl prudently managed to hide both hands behind his back, but now the lines on her palm carefully studied whitish eyes without pupils. Eyebrows and eyelashes of a strange creature were also white as snow. He also spoke about the winter! Well, isn’t it the witchcraft?
Amaranta looked again inВ the abyss. The ice stretched out ofВ it, the hell is intricate patterns, but did not reach the bridge. The ice vibrated, and she could not consider; is it inВ fact an ice or are the ice creatures climbingВ up.
The creature barely delivered his head toВ her shoulders, somehow climbed into the bridge, and others could not. Is he important among them? Dear rings on her fingers did not interest him at all. But the lines ofВ her fate, which it, apparently, was read, forced him toВ be nervous.
В«Not winter is approaching! You are approaching!В» Amaranta nodded toВ the abyss. В«You are alive, although you are made from ice.В»
В«We are not made. We were born inВ such state,В» it did not even show greed, noting aВ massive chain ofВ gold with the emblems ofВ Aluar, which the king himself gave her when woven her. As aВ creature inВ such aВ wretched torn cape, barely covering his icy shoulders, can not be aВ begging or thief?
В«And you crawl up, inВ our world,В» she concluded. В«You are the Ice elves, about which they say so much here. IВ imagined the elves ofВ aВ little more beautiful creatures.В»
Amaranta stopped, he was converted toВ thinking that it could regard such aВ phrase as aВ personal insult, but an angular ice creature did not even react toВ her chatter. It seems that he found aВ noble girl as an empty-headed coquette, whose speeches can not listen at all. All the same, nothing smart will notВ say.
It was rather strange that her jewel was not attracted him. Maybe he will ask for payment after the prediction.
В«ByВ the way, IВ do not believe inВ the divination byВ hand. Under the court inВ Aluar, IВ have already met the chiromants, and they could not even guess for whom IВ would marry. They predicted, what for the king, and IВ go out for the count.
The old king is such aВ prediction was very flattering, probably, therefore, the sly lets were given. Amaranta then it was very painful. She did not want toВ marry the king. He was old and ugly. And his kingdom was on the grain ofВ war.
ByВ the way, it was during the prediction ofВ Amaranta for the first time and saw something unusual. AВ beautiful bird from the palace garden, flew out the window, sat on the back ofВ her armchairs and combined:
В«Do not worry so! The king inВ the world is not one. Suddenly you will meet one more?
Isn’t that the war who goes on us, thought Amaranth, but with a bird did not enter the debate, otherwise the courtesy would be laughed. After all, birds do not know how to speak human voices. All this is known. But the Amarante was heard in the bird shuttle, it was human speech. Probably, it was probably not worth drinking such a strong wine, which is served in the Aluar’s court. And it was not worth believing the chirromants. In order to heal in front of some influential and rich client, they are willing to utter any lie.
But the creature is from ice inВ itself was something magical, and many ofВ the same creatures crawling up toВ the bridge seemed toВ be aВ mythical picture. From them the dark abyss was painted with white radiance.
Suddenly, the truth lives the magic. AВ strange ice creature inВ front ofВ her knows how toВ foresee the future. From his touch, the fingers ofВ Amaranta frozen and did not listen toВ the hostess, and it suddenly shuffled over her palm.
В«Do not be afraid, Mrs. If your future spouse is making an alliance that hopes, we will not bring the eternal winter toВ your prosperous edge. We have toВ go somewhere else.В»
В«Who put you inВ the abyss? Or did you born there?В» Amaranta was very much intrigued byВ the Ice Army than her own fate, inВ which so far everything was clear. В«Can you get out or have any spell that releases you out? IВ heard some ofВ the conversations inВ the villages, byВ which we drove.В»
В«Worry about us is very noble. Especially considering the fact that you will die, barely my brothers will get away,В» he suddenly squeezed her palm so hard that Amaranta almost shouted.
В«My palm hurts!В»
В«Get used toВ pain! You have aВ lot ofВ difficult solutions ahead. If you do not go toВ the end ofВ this bridge, we will never get out ofВ the abyss. Fate gave you aВ chance toВ make aВ choice, stopping your carriage.В»
The horses for her back piercingly rusted, probably feeling the presence ofВ the magic creature. The grooms tried toВ calm them. Her maids complained ofВ cold and demanded that the crew repaired as soon as possible. The girls could not understand how so far they had toВ fan from the heat, while they drove around the fields and meadows, and stopping on the bridge, they seemed toВ be inВ the ice strip ofВ frost. It does not happen that the Earth shared on the summer and winter stripes. But here itВ is.
В«Where did we come? В«Adeline complained noisily, the most chatting maid ofВ Amaranta. Only no one came toВ look back and see with whom speaks their mistress.
В«If you continue your journey and pass the bridge, you will free all ofВ us. And on your conscience there will be all that weВ do.В»
She was slightly frightened. And the cold, passed from his icy fingers toВ her, became almost unbearable. She is frowned toВ death, if he does not let herВ go.
В«You will go or crawl,В» she looked down again. В«Not on the earth ofВ my husband, but somewhere else. Perhaps inВ deserted lands.В»
He laughed.
В«Your future spouse is likely toВ make aВ union on which the inviolability ofВ your land depends. But you will most likely dissolve this union.В»
В«IВ will not do this. The peace is for me the most important. IВ do not like controversy and war.В»
В«And do you know, because ofВ what people are fighting? Most often due toВ the fact that it is impossible toВ get aВ peaceful way and without which they cannot liveВ on.В»
«I do not understand! Personally, I wanted everything, I wanted to achieve a peaceful way, – she was only slightly not fair. The tactics of quarrels, tears and family scandals were almost military. Only war was carried out on the home front, when Amaranta knocked her right to marry not the old king, but the only young and beautiful fan that she had. Let him be a stranger nobleman who came to Aluar just once from far away, with not quite clear goals, but his beauty, youth, knowledge and wealth he had in stock all at once. If the applicant had only one of these qualities on her hand, then native could hardly let her choose him. Amaranta lived at the court and perfectly knew that youth and wealth is too rare combination even among the noblemen. Mostly young people are waiting for inheritance, and the elderly and wealthy in the meantime are woven to their chosen. Such is life in Aluar, the island kingdom, located among the rocks and seas. And on earthly continent otherwise, after all, Angus has all older relatives have long died. He remained alone and himself was the owner of the county. Amaranta The edge of the ear heard something that in the edges of which Angus arrived, people do not live long. Probably the case is in climate. Or in permanent wars. Having arrived here, she did not even think about the fact that she herself may not live for a long time. The ice creatures, for example, climbing from the abyss, did not foretell anything good. If they go on the surface, then everything will freeze around.
В«If Angus signed the agreement, then the wars will be no longer. It is so?В» Although from where the ice creature could know it. It is not aВ local spy? And the predictors are not given toВ know. They only see the perspective and build assumptions, if they do not pretend atВ all.
В«Do not destroy what he did, otherwise we will come toВ you. And try not toВ look at our king.В»
Amaranta even grinned. Here you can not threaten. Ugly Ice king is definitely not attractive. Yes, even if he was their king and was beautiful, then living inВ aВ constant cold next toВ him would not wish any lady. But the creature next toВ her still worried.
В«You better choose aВ mortal husband.В»
В«But IВ already chose him, no one displaced me aВ magic one.В»
He did not let the hand ofВ Amaranta from his icy fingers. And she frozen more and more.
В«Lines on your palm have not been noticed too clearly. But now it is clear that the spouses you will have two at once.В»
В«Two? It is unlikely that Angus will die so soon.В»
And what does two husbands mean? She is aВ noble girl. Such hints are humiliating. Maybe Ice Beings may have ten spouses at once, but the noble Lords may have only one wife. He was strongly mistaken, equal toВ his race with people. When you compose for someone predictions, you need toВ be careful that your lies do not fit. And he clearly composed. Amaranta already wanted toВ give him an advice not toВ predict anything inВ those aspects inВ which he was not understandable at all through his ice origin. But he continued selflessly, as if he really saw something inВ her future.
В«You will have repeatedly choose between magic and earthly life. And God forbid you toВ choose magic. You will burn it hard.В»
В«Oh really. And the personal dragon toВ damage it right now inВ the carriage and fly toВ the castle, IВ will not get.В»
В«The Ice predictor did not understand aВ joke.
В«The dragons will not be foreseen,В» he responded quite seriously. В«But there will be one lady, the hostess ofВ dragons, which you better beware.В»
В«Why?В» Amaranta is interested. She never seen aВ lady with dragons inВ life. Yes, and the dragons themselves, toВ be honest, too, never met and strongly doubted that they exist atВ all.
«She will be,» the ice creature is slow. «As it is called, you, earthly women… A, remembered. Opponent!»
В«My rival! The Lady with dragons! Well, thanks, you pleasedВ me.В»
